MDCAT Fee 2026: How Much Candidates Paid and Why the Money Is Now a Political Issue

Every MDCAT candidate pays a registration fee. In 2026, with controversy swirling around the exam, that fee has itself become part of the debate. Politicians are asking where the money went, and parents are asking whether the service justified the price.

This guide sets out the official fee structure, the numbers that have been claimed, and what is and is not established.

According to PMDC's public notice for MDCAT 2026:

Test centre location	Normal registration	Late registration
Within Pakistan	Rs 9,000	Rs 13,000
International centres	Rs 45,000	Rs 55,000

PMDC stated that all registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. The registration schedule was: opens 22 June, normal deadline 8 July (later reported as extended to 13 July for the regular fee), with a late-fee window afterwards.

Other costs a candidate typically bears, but which are not part of the PMDC fee, include travel to a test centre, accommodation if the centre is in another city, preparation material and, for some students, coaching.

About 135,000 to 136,000 candidates were expected for MDCAT 2026. As a rough illustration of scale:

• 136,000 × Rs 9,000 ≈ Rs 1.22 billion at the normal domestic rate.
• Late and international fees would add to this.

That is our own back-of-envelope estimate, not an official figure. On 9 October, Jamaat-e-Islami's Munem Zafar Khan stated that PMDC collected approximately PKR 1.263 billion for MDCAT, and demanded that a comprehensive account of how the money was used be made public. His figure is a claim made in a letter to PMDC; we have not seen an official PMDC statement of total collections.

Dr Farooq Sattar of MQM-P said the National Testing Service conducted MDCAT from 2009 to 2019 for a fee of Rs 1,500 without major complaints, and contrasted that with the Rs 9,000 charged now. He questioned where the fees went and asked for accountability. Comparisons like this need caution:

• Rs 1,500 was a 2009-2019 figure, and prices change with inflation.
• The 2026 exam involved security upgrades such as biometric verification and surveillance at centres, reported as part of the new arrangements.
• Who receives the fee (PMDC, administering universities, testing services) and for what is not clear in public reporting.

That unanswered question is exactly what critics want clarified.

After the 18th Constitutional Amendment, provincial public-sector universities administer MDCAT in their regions, with PMDC setting the framework. For 2026:

• Punjab: UHS
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: KMU
• Sindh: Sukkur IBA Testing Services
• Balochistan: BUMHS (as seen in the answer-key petition)

PMDC said it would seek a legal opinion on its authority over MDCAT after a federal health minister's letter. How fees flow between PMDC and administering bodies is a reasonable subject for that review.

• A public statement of total fees collected and how they were spent
• Centre planning proportional to candidate numbers, such as more centres in large cities (Karachi had two centres for roughly 12,000 candidates, according to MQM-P's account)
• Independent audit of the exam process and finances
• Possibly fee refunds or concessions for affected candidates (not formally demanded in the reports we reviewed)

1. Keep your fee challan and receipt. They are your proof of payment and registration.
2. Know the policy: fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
3. Submit queries in writing to PMDC or your administering university if you have a specific complaint.
4. Budget early next year. Register in the normal window to avoid the late fee, which was Rs 4,000 higher domestically.
5. Compare costs of preparation. Free tools can reduce spending on paid courses.

On that last point: DIFF. MDCAT's practice MCQs, past papers and notes are free to use.

Based on published reports as of 9 October 2026. Totals and claims are attributed to those making them.

Practice MCQs free → · Latest news →

Checked on 9 October 2026. News reports are attributed reporting; allegations and committee proposals are not final findings or notified rules. Confirm deadlines and eligibility with the responsible authority.

• PMDC original registration and fee notice
• Fee transparency claim, 9 October