LAHORE: Prospective dental students in Punjab could have another institution to consider following the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore’s approval of affiliation for a 50-seat Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme at M. Islam Medical and Dental College in Gujranwala.
The decision was taken at the university’s 96th Syndicate meeting, chaired by UHS Vice Chancellor Maj Gen (retd) Prof Dr Sohail Sabir. The meeting also approved a new PhD programme in Oral Biology and revised curricula for postgraduate dental programmes, placing undergraduate dental education, specialist training and research among the key areas covered by the university’s latest academic decisions.
For prospective dental students, the proposed 50-seat intake is a particularly important development. For the wider dental community, the approval of doctoral-level study in Oral Biology and revisions to postgraduate curricula could also have implications for academic development and research training.
M. Islam Medical and Dental College is a private-sector institution located on GT Road near the Toll Plaza on Aimanabad Road in Gujranwala, Punjab.
According to the college’s official website, its campus covers approximately 18 acres and includes lecture theatres, laboratories, a library, a museum, a dissection hall, an auditorium and other educational facilities. The institution says its facilities are intended to support medical education and professional training.
The college’s dental website also lists departments associated with dental education, including Oral Biology and Tooth Morphology, Community and Preventive Dentistry, Science of Dental Materials, Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine, Periodontology, Prosthodontics, Orthodontics and Dental Radiology, Operative and Conservative Dentistry, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
These departmental listings provide context about the institution’s stated dental education infrastructure. They should not, however, be taken as independent proof that a BDS programme has received all required approvals or has begun enrolling students.
The current Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) list of private dental colleges also does not appear to list a BDS programme at M. Islam Medical and Dental College in Gujranwala. This makes formal confirmation of the programme’s regulatory status particularly important following the reported UHS affiliation decision.
What the 50-seat BDS decision means for students
If the programme completes the applicable regulatory requirements and the approved intake is reflected in the formal admission arrangements, the 50-seat BDS programme would provide another potential route into undergraduate dental education in Gujranwala.
For candidates and their families, the next step is to establish when the programme is eligible to admit students and under what conditions. An affiliation decision alone should not be treated as confirmation that admissions are open.
Prospective applicants should verify:
- Whether the BDS programme has received all required regulatory recognition and approvals.
- Whether the 50-seat intake has been formally approved for the relevant academic session.
- The admission schedule, eligibility criteria, fee structure and selection process.
- The institution’s status in the latest official UHS and PMDC notices.
These checks are especially important when considering a newly approved programme, as the regulatory status and admission arrangements may require further formal notification.
UHS approves PhD programme in Oral Biology
Alongside the BDS affiliation decision, the Syndicate approved five new PhD programmes in Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, Oral Biology and Medical Laboratory Sciences.
Oral Biology is the programme most directly relevant to dentistry. The discipline examines the biological structures and processes underlying oral health and disease, including oral tissues and the development and function of structures within the mouth.
A doctoral pathway in the field could provide opportunities for advanced research and academic development for suitably qualified candidates. It may be of interest to dental graduates and researchers seeking to pursue work in oral biology and related areas of dental science.
Revised postgraduate dental curricula approved
The Syndicate also approved revised curricula for postgraduate dental programmes, a decision relevant to dentists pursuing advanced training and the institutions responsible for delivering specialist education.
Curriculum revisions can shape the content and structure of postgraduate training, helping define the knowledge and competencies that candidates are expected to develop.
Other decisions from the 96th UHS Syndicate meeting
The meeting also addressed several other areas of medical and health professions education.
• Regenerative Medicine: The Syndicate approved the establishment of a dedicated Department of Regenerative Medicine at UHS, offering MPhil and PhD programmes.
• Nursing education: An additional 1,100 evening BS Nursing seats were approved across 18 public-sector nursing colleges in Punjab, following recommendations from the university’s Affiliation Committee.
• Allied Health Sciences: The minimum HSSC marks requirement for four-year BS Allied Health Sciences programmes was reduced from 60% to 50%, in line with the policy cited in the university’s announcement. Applicants should confirm the latest programme-specific eligibility requirements before applying.
• MBBS curriculum: Final-year MBBS Paediatrics marks were increased from 200 to 300. The Syndicate also approved changes to clinical rotations in Medicine and Surgery, alongside additional maternal and child health topics and field visits in the integrated MBBS curriculum.
• Cardiology training: The Syndicate approved affiliation for Rahmatul-lil-Alameen Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, for MS Cardiology and MS Cardiac Surgery.
• Academic leadership: Prof Tayyaba Wasim, Principal of Allama Iqbal Medical College, was appointed Chairperson of the Board of Studies in Medicine.
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