The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has officially announced extension of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme from 4 years to 5 years.
This was announced in a press statement issued by the council. The statement further said that President of the PM&DC Prof DrRizwanTaj highlighted the significant benefits of the new decision and added that the step was taken keeping in view the challenges faced by BDS graduates in securing training /jobs etc across the globe where 5 five-year BDS transcript is required.
The council decided that the BDS course/structure in Pakistan shall be a 5-year programme including 5th year as clerkship year followed by 1-year structured house job/ foundation year/internship. This shall be implemented w.e.f session 2024-2025. He further added that the additional year will allow students to gain a deeper theoretical understanding of dental sciences, improving the academic foundation required for excellence in the field. With extended clinical training, students will be better prepared to handle real-world dental challenges with competence and confidence.
This initiative will bring Pakistan’s dental education system in line with global standards, facilitating greater international recognition of Pakistani graduates. This enhancement will equip graduates with advanced skills and knowledge, thus strengthening their competitiveness in both local and international healthcare sectors.
