UHS Announces New Rules for Medical Students

LAHORE: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has approved new academic regulations — and let’s just say, they’re raising the bar.

During a syndicate meeting held on Monday, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, the university officially decided the minimum attendance requirement for the university and professional exams at 90% and 70% and professional exams were announced. The decision was taken during a syndicate meeting held on Monday and presided over by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ahsan Waheed Rathore. This move is in accordance with the most recent announcement of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC).

So, what does this mean for students? Well, to put it simply — if you don’t show up for at least 90% of your classes, you’re not even allowed to sit for your annual exams. No more last-minute cramming to make up for missed lectures. And even if you do attend, you’ll need to score at least 70% to pass. That’s a significant jump from the current passing mark, which sits at 50%.

For context, right now, most medical and dental colleges require 85% attendance, so pushing it to 90% may not seem like a huge leap — but for many students juggling packed schedules, it definitely adds pressure.

Now, before everyone panics, here’s an important detail: these new rules will only apply to first-year MBBS and BDS students starting from the 2024-25 academic session. If you’re already enrolled, you can breathe easy — the changes won’t affect you.

The meeting wasn’t just about attendance and marks, though. Dr. Zahid Pervaiz was also nominated to join the UHS Finance and Planning Committee — a move that might bring fresh perspectives on the university’s budgeting and development plans.

And speaking of growth, here’s some good news for aspiring medics: two private medical colleges have been given the green light to increase their MBBS seats from 100 to 150. These are Sahara Medical College in Narowal and Sharif Medical College in Lahore. So, if you’ve been eyeing a spot, this might open up more opportunities.

The session saw a blend of in-person and virtual attendance. Alongside Prof. Rathore, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Nadia Naseem, Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, and Registrar Kiran Fatima were present. Other notable participants like Prof. Arshad Cheema, Prof. Maryam Malik, and officials from Punjab’s Specialized Healthcare and Finance Departments joined remotely.

All in all, it’s clear that UHS is serious about upping the academic game — making sure future doctors and dentists aren’t just scraping by, but actually mastering their fields. Whether students see this as a challenge or a motivation — well, that remains to be seen.