Private Medical Colleges Excess Fees: PMDC Issues Show-Cause Notices to 45 Colleges

If your son or daughter studies in a private medical college, the fee you pay may have been higher than the law allows. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Health was told on 11 November 2026 that 45 private medical colleges were charging students more than the officially prescribed fee, with some demanding up to Rs600,000 over and above the approved amount. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has now issued show-cause notices to the colleges concerned, and the committee has demanded their inspection reports for the last two years.

The PMDC excess fees show-cause notices follow a Lahore High Court judgment of 7 November 2026, which upheld the PMDC’s power to cap private medical college fees and ordered colleges to refund the excess amounts. Together, the court order and the parliamentary action give affected students a clear route to get their money back.

Private Medical Colleges Excess Fees: What Happened

• Meeting: National Assembly Standing Committee on Health, 11 November 2026, chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar
• Disclosure: Committee member Dr Shazia Soomro said 45 private medical colleges were charging more than the prescribed fees
• Excess Charged: Up to Rs600,000 above the approved fee in some cases
• PMDC Action: Show-cause notices issued to the colleges concerned
• Reports Demanded: Inspection reports of private medical colleges for the last two years
• Fee Cap: Rs1.8 million benchmark annual fee; Rs2.1 million maximum for approved institutions

How the Excess Fees Came to Light

• Committee Questioning: The health committee took up the issue of private medical colleges allegedly charging students fees beyond the prescribed limits.
• College Appeals: The health minister told the committee that 65 institutions had informed the PMDC about their expenses, while 35 had submitted detailed expenditure records.
• Approved Higher Fees: After reviewing the documents, 35 colleges were allowed to charge annual fees ranging from Rs1.8 million to Rs2.1 million.
• List of Violators: A list of 45 institutions charging more than the approved limits was provided to the PMDC.
• PMDC Confirmation: The PMDC president informed the committee that show-cause notices had been issued to the colleges allegedly charging excessive fees.

Lahore High Court Refund Order for Students

• Judgment Date: 7 November 2026, by Justice Khalid Ishaq of the Lahore High Court
• PMDC Authority Upheld: The court ruled that the PMDC has full legal authority to determine, approve, amend and cap tuition fees at private medical and dental colleges.
• Refund Direction: Private colleges must refund fees collected above the prescribed limits, or adjust the excess in students’ next instalments.
• Deadline: Valid claims for refund or adjustment must be processed within 30 working days of 30 October 2026.
• College Petitions Dismissed: The court dismissed the petitions filed by private medical colleges against the PMDC fee notifications.

What Parents and Students Should Do Now

• Compare Your Fee: Check the fee charged by your college against the Rs1.8 million benchmark, or Rs2.1 million if the college has PMDC approval for the higher fee.
• Collect Proof: Keep fee challans, receipts and any written demand for extra charges, including examination charges beyond the annual fee.
• Claim the Refund: Under the Lahore High Court judgment, excess amounts must be refunded or adjusted in the next instalment within the court-set deadline.
• Approach PMDC: Students facing excess fee demands can contact the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council through its official website.
• Follow the Committee: The health committee has sought two years of inspection reports, so further action against violating colleges will follow once those reports are reviewed.

Conclusion

The PMDC excess fees show-cause notices to 45 private medical colleges, backed by the Lahore High Court refund order, mean that excess fee collection in private medical education is now under action from both the courts and parliament. Parents and students should compare the fee they paid with the approved cap, keep their receipts, and claim any refund due under the court judgment. The PMDC inspection reports sought by the committee will decide the next round of action against the colleges concerned.

FAQs

Which colleges received PMDC show-cause notices?

The PMDC has issued show-cause notices to 45 private medical colleges that were charging students fees beyond the officially prescribed limits.

What is the maximum approved annual fee for private medical colleges?

The benchmark annual fee is Rs1.8 million, and 35 institutions have approval to charge up to Rs2.1 million per year.

How much extra were some colleges charging?

Some colleges were demanding up to Rs600,000 over and above the approved fee, as disclosed in the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health.

Will students get their excess fees back?

Yes. The Lahore High Court judgment of 7 November 2026 ordered private colleges to refund excess fees, or adjust them in the next instalment, within 30 working days of 30 October 2026.

Where can I find official PMDC information?

Official notices and information are available on the PMDC website at pmdc.pk.