LHC Upholds Private Medical Colleges Fee Cap: Refund of Rs 841,000 Per Student Ordered

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has dismissed the writ petitions filed by private medical and dental colleges against the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) fee regulation, upholding the official tuition fee cap of Rs 1.8 million per year for MBBS and BDS students. The court also directed all private medical colleges to refund the excess fee they had charged over the prescribed amount to their students. The LHC private medical colleges fee verdict is a major relief for thousands of medical students and their parents across Punjab and the rest of Pakistan.

Justice Jawad Hassan delivered the verdict on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, rejecting the colleges’ challenge to the fee regulation. The case, filed by the Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions (PAPMDI) and 45 private medical and dental colleges, had been pending for months, and the court had reserved its decision after hearing final arguments from both sides.

LHC Private Medical Colleges Fee Verdict at a Glance

What the Court Decided

• Fee cap upheld: The court upheld the PMDC fee cap of Rs 1.8 million per year for MBBS and BDS programmes, rejecting the colleges’ argument that the regulation was unlawful.
• Petitions dismissed: The writ petitions filed by the Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions and 45 private medical and dental colleges were dismissed.
• Refund ordered: The court directed all private medical colleges to refund the excess fee they had charged over the prescribed amount, with MBBS students to receive Rs 841,317 and BDS students Rs 741,802 each.
• Deadline set: The colleges must complete the refunds by 29 November 2026, less than three weeks after the verdict.

Why the Colleges Challenged the Fee Cap

• Fee regulation 2025: The PMDC, in its regulations issued on 3 September 2025, capped the tuition fee at Rs 1.8 million per year for MBBS and BDS programmes in private medical and dental colleges.
• Colleges charged more: Despite the cap, private medical colleges charged fees of up to Rs 2.6 million per year for MBBS and up to Rs 2.4 million per year for BDS, exceeding the prescribed limit by hundreds of thousands of rupees per student.
• Legal challenge: PAPMDI and 45 colleges challenged the regulation in the Lahore High Court, arguing that the PMDC had no authority to fix the fee and that the cap was unrealistic.
• Show-cause notices: The PMDC had already issued show-cause notices to 45 private medical and dental colleges on 7 November 2026 for charging fees above the cap, and had summoned their representatives for a hearing on 11 November 2026.

What This Means for Medical Students

• Refund due: Students who paid more than Rs 1.8 million per year can now expect a refund of Rs 841,317 for MBBS and Rs 741,802 for BDS, to be paid by 29 November 2026.
• Future fees capped: The verdict confirms that private medical colleges cannot charge more than Rs 1.8 million per year for MBBS and BDS programmes, bringing predictability to medical education costs.
• Complaints to PMDC: Students and parents who face overcharging can complain to the PMDC, which has already taken action against 45 colleges through show-cause notices.
• Check your fee receipt: Compare the fee you paid against the Rs 1.8 million cap, keep your receipts, and contact the college administration if your refund has not arrived by 29 November 2026.

Background: The Fee Controversy

The fee controversy began when the PMDC, through its regulations of 3 September 2025, fixed the tuition fee for private medical and dental colleges at Rs 1.8 million per year, with an annual increase of up to 5 percent linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The colleges, however, continued charging higher fees, and many parents complained to the PMDC and the courts. The PMDC’s show-cause notices of 7 November 2026 named 45 colleges, and the LHC verdict of 11 November 2026 has now settled the legal question in the students’ favour.

Contact and Helpline Details

Conclusion

The LHC private medical colleges fee verdict settles a long-running dispute in favour of students and parents: the PMDC fee cap of Rs 1.8 million per year stands, the colleges’ challenge has been dismissed, and refunds of Rs 841,317 per MBBS student and Rs 741,802 per BDS student must be paid by 29 November 2026. Students who paid more than the cap should check their fee receipts, keep their payment records, and follow up with their college if the refund does not arrive by the deadline.

FAQs

What is the official fee cap for private medical colleges in Pakistan?
Rs 1.8 million per year for MBBS and BDS programmes, as fixed by the PMDC in its regulations of 3 September 2025, with an annual increase of up to 5 percent linked to the Consumer Price Index.

How much refund will MBBS and BDS students get?
MBBS students will receive Rs 841,317 each and BDS students Rs 741,802 each, as ordered by the Lahore High Court on 11 November 2026.

By when must colleges pay the refund?
The Lahore High Court directed private medical colleges to complete the refunds by 29 November 2026.

Which colleges were involved in the case?
The Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions (PAPMDI) and 45 private medical and dental colleges had challenged the PMDC fee regulation in the Lahore High Court.

What should I do if my college does not refund the excess fee?
Keep your fee receipts and payment records, contact your college administration in writing, and if the refund is not paid by 29 November 2026, file a complaint with the PMDC through its official website.

Shahzad Sahil

Shahzad Sahil is the editor of lahorejobs24.com, covering government jobs, private jobs, bank jobs, results and education news for Lahore and Punjab, with information verified from official sources.