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MBBS in China Q&AMenu

Is MBBS in China valid in Pakistan?

Unofficial · Sources checked

PM&DC's notices set conditions for recognising a foreign medical degree and name no country, including China, as valid or invalid. A Chinese MBBS degree may lead to provisional registration and the National Registration Examination only if the awarding institution meets PM&DC's recognition conditions.

This page cannot state whether a given Chinese university is on PM&DC's recognised list or the ECFMG lists; the reader must check each list. The registration and examination steps for Pakistan are set out on this site's section page.

PM&DC press release of 14 September 2025

The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council published a press release on 14 September 2025.

The PM&DC Act 2022 provides the Council to assess and recognise foreign medical institutions, and only graduates of foreign institutions duly recognised by PM&DC are eligible for the issuance of provisional registration. Such graduates may be granted provisional registration; however, they are mandatorily required to pass the National Registration Examination (NRE) before obtaining a full licence to practice.

The Council decided that only graduates of foreign institutions duly recognised by PM&DC are eligible for provisional registration prior to the NRE. Furthermore, only graduates of foreign institutions included in the ECFMG accredited lists are eligible to appear in the NRE.

Public notice of 22 October 2025

PM&DC (Registrar) issued a public notice on 22 October 2025.

The PM&DC Council has initiated the process of recognition of foreign medical and dental institutions awarding undergraduate degrees to Pakistan nationals. Graduates of foreign institutions not recognised by PM&DC shall not be issued provisional registration unless they have qualified from a PM&DC recognised institution.

For foreign graduates seeking eligibility to appear in the NRE, the recognition of the respective foreign regulatory authorities, along with accreditation of the institution by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), shall be the standard criteria. Candidates may visit www.ecfmg.org to review the recognition status of a foreign institution.

Public notice of 31 July 2026

PM&DC (Registrar) issued a public notice on 31 July 2026.

Only Pakistani nationals who have obtained their primary medical or dental qualification from foreign institutions recognised by ECFMG shall be eligible to appear in the NRE, subject to fulfilment of all other applicable requirements. PM&DC shall not entertain any request for exemption, relaxation, or special dispensation from the prescribed eligibility requirements.

National Registration Examination standard 2024

PM&DC's National Registration Examination (Medical): Standard, Structure and Syllabus 2024 states the examination is conducted under section 18 of the PM&DC Act 2022.

Passing the NRE (both the theory and clinical skills examination components) is mandatory for obtaining a full licence to practice as a General Practitioner. Under the 2024 standard, candidates who have successfully graduated from PM&DC approved foreign medical colleges with an MBBS/MD or equivalent degree along with a provisional licence issued by PM&DC are eligible to sit for NRE 2024.

The 2024 standard sets the NRE to be held at least twice a year, at multiple centres across Pakistan, with no bar on the number of times a candidate may attempt the complete NRE.

PM&DC policy of 29 July 2024 on foreign institutions

PM&DC (Examination Department) issued a policy dated 29 July 2024 for Pakistani students seeking admission to foreign medical or dental institutions, effective from Session 2024-2025. The policy sets these conditions on the qualification:

  • The qualification must be in allopathic medicine that has been awarded by an institution recognised by a regulatory body of the country concerned for full registration, which in turn is accredited by the WFME or World Directory of Medical Schools.
  • The medical qualification must comprise at least 6200 hours (with a minimum of 80% attendance) over 5 years.

The same policy also requires the student to verify that the institution is present in PM&DC's list and to obtain a PM&DC Student Registration Certificate before accepting studies, and to pass the PM&DC NRE to obtain full registration post qualification.

Related questions

Is the NRE the same as a licence to practice?

The 2024 standard states passing the NRE (both theory and clinical skills components) is mandatory for obtaining a full licence to practice as a General Practitioner. The 14 September 2025 press release states graduates are mandatorily required to pass the NRE before obtaining a full licence.

How do I check an institution's recognition status?

The 22 October 2025 public notice states candidates may visit www.ecfmg.org to review the recognition status of a foreign institution. PM&DC's recognised-institutions list is published on the PM&DC website.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or professional-licensing advice, is not published by the bodies named, promises no admission, examination or registration outcome, and the official text and the regulator's own instructions prevail if they differ.

Check the regulator's current document before you act. Medical councils issue new notices often, and a notice can change who may sit an examination. This page reflects the documents as they stood on the date above. It does not promise registration or a licence.

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