Abbottabad International Medical College

In Pakistan, a medical school is more often referred to as a medical college. A medical college is affiliated with a university as a department which usually has a separate campus. As of January 2019, there are a total of 114 medical colleges in Pakistan, 44 of which are public and 70 private. All but two colleges are listed in International Medical Education Directory. As per Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) 2021 database, there are 176 medical colleges in Pakistan (Medical and Dental Colleges), including 45 public sector and 72 private sector medical colleges. In addition, there are 17 public sector and 42 private sector dental colleges.

All medical colleges and universities are regulated by the respective provincial department of health. They however have to be recognized after meeting a set criteria by a central regulatory authority called Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and by Higher Education Commission (Pakistan). Admission to the medical colleges is based on merit under the guidelines of PMDC. Both the academic performance at the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) (grades 11–12) and an entrance test like MDCAT determine eligibility for admission to most of the medical colleges.