Doctors 📍 Punjab Last Updated: July 16, 2026

PMDC Approves 475 New MBBS Seats in Punjab Government Medical Colleges for 2026-27

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has approved 475 additional MBBS seats for Punjab's government medical colleges, increasing the total from 3,476 to 3,951 for the 2026-27 academic session. The decision is expected to improve admission opportunities for MDCAT 2026 candidates and may slightly lower closing merit in some public medical colleges.

On July 14, 2026, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) officially approved an increase of 475 MBBS seats in government medical colleges across Punjab. The approval comes nearly a year after the Punjab government submitted its request in August 2025.

What Changed

Category	Before	After	Increase
MBBS Seats - Punjab Govt Colleges	3,476	3,951	+475
Total Medical & Dental Seats - Punjab Govt Colleges	3,766	4,241	+475

Background

The Punjab government initially submitted a formal request to PMDC on August 21, 2025, seeking an increase of 475 MBBS seats in public sector medical colleges. The matter received in-principle approval at a subsequent PMDC meeting but formal notification was delayed — prompting the Punjab Health Department to send a reminder letter to PMDC in April 2026, urging the council to expedite approval before the 2026-27 admission session.

The Punjab Health Department continued to pursue the approval through correspondence with PMDC to ensure the additional seats were available before admissions for the 2026–27 academic session.

What This Means for Students

475 additional seats in government medical colleges means more students from across Punjab can secure admission without relying on expensive private medical colleges.
Government MBBS seats cost significantly less than private college seats — this expansion directly reduces the financial burden on middle-class families.
The expanded capacity takes effect for the 2026-27 academic session.
The additional seats may improve the chances of admission for eligible MDCAT candidates, although final merit will continue to depend on the number of applicants and their scores.
Competition for government MBBS seats will remain high despite the increase, making strong MDCAT performance essential.
Students should verify the revised seat allocation and admission schedule through PMDC and their respective admitting universities.

Which Colleges Will Receive the Additional Seats?

PMDC has approved the overall increase of 475 MBBS seats for Punjab government medical colleges. The distribution of these seats among individual colleges is expected to be reflected in the official admission notifications and prospectuses for the 2026–27 academic session.

📋 For Students: MDCAT 2026 registrations and merit lists will reflect the updated seat count. Check PMDC's official website and your respective university portals for updated merit lists once admissions open.

Planning a career in medicine? You can also browse trusted listings of doctors across Pakistan on Atapat.

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Sources

ProPakistani - PMDC Approves Increase in MBBS Seats for Punjab

Eduvision - PMDC Approves 475 Additional Seats in Punjab Government Medical Colleges

TheNews - PMDC increases seats in medical, dental colleges

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many new MBBS seats has PMDC approved for Punjab in 2026? +

PMDC has approved 475 additional MBBS seats for government medical colleges in Punjab. The total number of MBBS seats has increased from 3,476 to 3,951, starting from the 2026-27 academic session.

When did PMDC approve the additional MBBS seats? +

The approval was granted during the PMDC Council meeting held on July 14, 2026. Punjab's Health Department had submitted the proposal in August 2025, and the approval came after nearly a year of follow-up.

Will the new MBBS seats be available for MDCAT 2026 admissions? +

Yes. The additional 475 MBBS seats will be available for students applying through MDCAT 2026 for admission to the 2026-27 academic session.

Will the increase in MBBS seats reduce MDCAT merit? +

An increase in seats generally improves admission chances and may slightly lower the closing merit at some government medical colleges. However, the final merit will depend on MDCAT 2026 results, the number of applicants, and overall competition.

Which Punjab medical colleges will receive the new MBBS seats? +

PMDC has not yet announced the college-wise distribution of the 475 additional MBBS seats. The allocation is expected to be released before the admission process begins.

How many government medical and dental seats are now available in Punjab? +

Following the approval, the total number of seats in Punjab's government medical and dental colleges has increased from 3,766 to 4,241.

Where can students check the latest MBBS merit lists in Punjab? +

Students should check the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore website for official merit lists, seat allocations, admission schedules, and counselling updates for government medical colleges in Punjab.

Will private medical college admissions be affected by the new seats? +

The additional seats are for government medical colleges only. While private college admissions remain unchanged, some students who would have chosen private colleges may now qualify for government institutions.

Who announced the approval of the additional MBBS seats? +

The announcement was made after the PMDC Council approved the proposal. Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique also confirmed the approval and welcomed the increase in government medical college seats.