PMDC postpones NRE Step-I for foreign medical graduates to Nov 8 amid political tensions

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has postponed the first step of the National Registration Examination (NRE) for foreign medical graduates to November 8.

The council announced the change in a notification issued on October 5, citing “unavoidable circumstances” for the decision. According to reports, the prevailing political situation and the possibility of road closures were behind the rescheduling.

The decision comes as the PTI continues its long march from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa towards Islamabad, which began on October 4 despite government warnings.

The NRE is intended to maintain standards and ensure transparency and consistency in medical and dental education and professional practice in Pakistan.

The National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) conducts the examination on behalf of the PMDC to ensure its credibility and transparency.

The NRE consists of two steps and is held at least twice a year under the approved examination structure, standards and syllabus.

Foreign medical and dental graduates who obtained degrees in languages other than English are required to clear both steps of the examination before starting their house job and obtaining a licence to practise in Pakistan.