PMDC Examination
Passing PMDC is a must if u want to pursue ur career as a doctor here in Pakistan.PMDC is not as difficult as other board exams around the world. Nevertheless, it requires sound preparation and a complete guidance can be greatly helpful.
Applying for Eligilibity Certificate
Soon after u come back here in Pakistan, first thing u need to do is to apply for the Eligibility Certificate, i.e. a certificate which enables u to take the PMDC exam.
How u apply for it ?
Get 4 copies of each of the following documents.
Matric Sanad (SSC)
F.Sc Sanad (HSC)
Degree/Diploma (in Romanian/other foreign language)
Transcript (in Romanian/other foreign language)
Degree/Diploma (Translated)
Transcript (Translated)
Birth Certificate
Domicile
National ID Card
Passport (First 2 pages plus pages with first entry and last exit from the country of graduation)
4 Passport sized Photographs
Get all these 4 sets (of Photocopies) attested from RMC (Rawalpindi Medical College/ NB. Other Medical colleges usually deny doing any attestations) and submit all these papers plus 4 application forms (downloaded from the PMDC website or obtained directly from the PMDC, Islamabad) in the PMDC, Islamabad with Rs. 4500/- as a processing fee. Ur Eligibility Certificate will be posted to u on ur postal address in about a month.
Notification of the Exam Schedule
Exam is held twice a year (Spring in the end of April or beginning of May and Winter in the end of November or the beginning of December). Notification is through press (earlier) or on the PMDC website (a few days later) which would provide information about the exam date, the venue (usually is Margala Hotel, Islamabad for both theory and Viva exam), timings (Theory and Viva exams are separated by about 10 days), the last date of applying for the examination and about the provincial centers of the PMDC from where the application forms can be obtained. Notification is done a month in advance of the examination by the PMDC, Islamabad.
Application for the Examination
Go directly to PMDC Islamabad or to any of its provincial centres and get the application form. Following documents (Copies thoroughly attested from any Medical college) are enclosed with the application form.
National ID Card
Eligibility Certificate
4 Photographs (one attested on the front side)
Bank Draft worthing Rs. 10,000/- in favour of 'National Examination Board' as examination fee.
Application forms can be submitted to the PMDC islamabad or the provincial centers. U will be posted ur Admit Card/Roll No. Slip on ur postal address 4-5 days in advance of ur theory examination.
Sitting for the Theory Examination
The theory examination comprises of two papers. The first paper (Paper I) is Subjective type in which a total of 25 Scenario based Questions are asked and each question has 3 subqueries related to it and u will have 10 lines on the response sheet for answering each question (including its subqueries). U will have 3 hours to answers these 25 questions. There usually is a case history suggestive of a particular disease in the stem question and in the subqueries its diagnosis, investigations and the management options / treatment of choice are asked. The majority of questions are from Medicine, Obs /Gyne and Surgery.
The second paper (Paper II) is Objective type in which a total of 125 MCQs (of single best answer type) are asked and 3 hours are given to solve this paper. Questions are from Medicine, Surgery, Obs /Gyne, Psychiatry , ENT and Ophthalmology . Other subjects are also covered but number of questions are scarse.
THERE IS NO NEGATIVE MARKING !!!!
There is a lunch break (of 30 mins) after the first paper and u will be given a lunch box by the hotel.
Result of the Theory Examination
Results will be out on the same day and would be available on the PMDC website by around 10 pm. Only the passed candidates are eligible to appear in the Viva/OSCE examination and once theory exmination is passed, u will have three chances to attempt Viva examination.
Appearing in the Viva/OSCE Examination
For viva examination, please do not forget to take ur White coat and stethoscope. In the Viva examiantion, there will be 40 stations of all clinical specialities. At each station, there will be short cases, Patient data with or without photographs, and Instruments of the relevant speciality. Instructions for candidates will be displayed clearly along with the examination material on each station. Time for each station will be 3 minutes, after which bell would ring and u will move to the next station as per rotation.
My OSCE examination
On stations of Medicine - The examiner asked me to do a complete abdominal examination of a patient and observed me while doing that and asked me several questions related to ascites. On the next station, the examiner asked me to do a complete lung examination and asked questions related to decreased vocal fremitus and pleural effusion. The next examiner asked me to examine the precordium and asked questions related to heart sounds. (Physiology of heart sounds). On the next station, there was a Chest X ray and i was asked to identify the abnormality. It was pleural effusion and he asked me several questions related to it.
On the surgery stations, examiners had cases like thyrotoxic goitre and inguinal hernia.There was a picture of a case with a parotid swelling and the examiner asked me the method of differentiating between the benign and malignant nature of the swelling on clinical ground and the complications of the surgery on the parotid.
On ENT stations, mouth and pharyngeal examination, Nasal speculum with nasal examination were asked. On ENT stations, a lot of Head & neck Anatomy is asked.
On Ophthalmo stations, there was a picture of a case with Unilateral Ptosis and the examiner asked me possible causes of it. On the other station, an examiner had ophthalmoscope and the she asked me to name it, the use of it (to view retina) and whether of not it provides the 3-D view of retina (it does not). Other examiners at the Ophthalmology stations asked me several definitions like that of glaucoma, cataract, conjunctivitis, retinopathy, stye, chalazion, trachoma etc.
On Obstetrics stations, an examiner had 'Obstetrical Forceps' on the table and asked me to recognise it and to tell me the prerequisites that should be met before using it etc.
Another examiner had a picture of Cusco's speculum and she asked me the uses of it. Another examiner had a picture of placenta praevia and she asked me questions related to it. (Is bleeding painful, Is uterus hard?). An examiner on Gyne asked me the definitions of menorrhagia, preeclampsia, tocolysis, antenatal diagnosis and the treatment of preeclampsia, etc.
On Paeds stations, there was a scenario on the table (a child with a cough, what questions would u ask in the history).Another examiner asked me to inspect the child and to delineate the abnormality. The child had anemia; he asked me questions about iron deficiency anemia, hemolytic anema and thalasemia. On the next station, there was a 'Paediatric NG tube'. I was asked to recignise it, to explain the method of its use, and the way its proper insertion is checked. On the next station, i was asked following questions. According to EPI being followed in Pak, what is the schedule of HBV immunization in a child? Maternal causes of malnutrition in pakistan? What risks a premature is at? etc.
Combined/Final Result
Final result will be out on the same day on the PMDC website by 10 pm. Passed candidates will be posted the 'Provisional Registration Certificate' in due course.
MY ADVISES:
To Prepare for PMDC, u should give special attention to MEDICINE, Obs /GYNE, SURGERY (General surgery part), ENT , Ophthalmology and Paediatrics in descending order of their importance. For preparing these subjects, u can study from any of ur course books. Which book u study does not matter, what matters is your knowledge !!!! However, following books are helpful for PMDC if studied;
MEDICINE (by Inam Danish - greatly helpful)
OBSTETRICS (Illustrated Obstetrics or any other book)
Gynaecology (by Latif/Yusuf or any other book)
SURGERY (by Ijaz Ahsan or shamim - greatly helpful)
ENT (Dingra)
Ophthalmology (Jogi)
Paediatrics ( by Pervez Akbar)
Golden Tip: "Learn important diseases/conditions with undivided attentions. Do not waste ur precious time reading the unnecessary stuff ." For instance, reading MYASTHENIA GRAVIS is not as important as knowing the STROKE . Select the most common illnesses in Pakistan and learn them with the best focus.
Prepare it well and leave rest to God.
Wish u all best of luck.
Regards,
Passing PMDC is a must if u want to pursue ur career as a doctor here in Pakistan.PMDC is not as difficult as other board exams around the world. Nevertheless, it requires sound preparation and a complete guidance can be greatly helpful.
Applying for Eligilibity Certificate
Soon after u come back here in Pakistan, first thing u need to do is to apply for the Eligibility Certificate, i.e. a certificate which enables u to take the PMDC exam.
How u apply for it ?
Get 4 copies of each of the following documents.
Matric Sanad (SSC)
F.Sc Sanad (HSC)
Degree/Diploma (in Romanian/other foreign language)
Transcript (in Romanian/other foreign language)
Degree/Diploma (Translated)
Transcript (Translated)
Birth Certificate
Domicile
National ID Card
Passport (First 2 pages plus pages with first entry and last exit from the country of graduation)
4 Passport sized Photographs
Get all these 4 sets (of Photocopies) attested from RMC (Rawalpindi Medical College/ NB. Other Medical colleges usually deny doing any attestations) and submit all these papers plus 4 application forms (downloaded from the PMDC website or obtained directly from the PMDC, Islamabad) in the PMDC, Islamabad with Rs. 4500/- as a processing fee. Ur Eligibility Certificate will be posted to u on ur postal address in about a month.
Notification of the Exam Schedule
Exam is held twice a year (Spring in the end of April or beginning of May and Winter in the end of November or the beginning of December). Notification is through press (earlier) or on the PMDC website (a few days later) which would provide information about the exam date, the venue (usually is Margala Hotel, Islamabad for both theory and Viva exam), timings (Theory and Viva exams are separated by about 10 days), the last date of applying for the examination and about the provincial centers of the PMDC from where the application forms can be obtained. Notification is done a month in advance of the examination by the PMDC, Islamabad.
Application for the Examination
Go directly to PMDC Islamabad or to any of its provincial centres and get the application form. Following documents (Copies thoroughly attested from any Medical college) are enclosed with the application form.
National ID Card
Eligibility Certificate
4 Photographs (one attested on the front side)
Bank Draft worthing Rs. 10,000/- in favour of 'National Examination Board' as examination fee.
Application forms can be submitted to the PMDC islamabad or the provincial centers. U will be posted ur Admit Card/Roll No. Slip on ur postal address 4-5 days in advance of ur theory examination.
Sitting for the Theory Examination
The theory examination comprises of two papers. The first paper (Paper I) is Subjective type in which a total of 25 Scenario based Questions are asked and each question has 3 subqueries related to it and u will have 10 lines on the response sheet for answering each question (including its subqueries). U will have 3 hours to answers these 25 questions. There usually is a case history suggestive of a particular disease in the stem question and in the subqueries its diagnosis, investigations and the management options / treatment of choice are asked. The majority of questions are from Medicine, Obs /Gyne and Surgery.
The second paper (Paper II) is Objective type in which a total of 125 MCQs (of single best answer type) are asked and 3 hours are given to solve this paper. Questions are from Medicine, Surgery, Obs /Gyne, Psychiatry , ENT and Ophthalmology . Other subjects are also covered but number of questions are scarse.
THERE IS NO NEGATIVE MARKING !!!!
There is a lunch break (of 30 mins) after the first paper and u will be given a lunch box by the hotel.
Result of the Theory Examination
Results will be out on the same day and would be available on the PMDC website by around 10 pm. Only the passed candidates are eligible to appear in the Viva/OSCE examination and once theory exmination is passed, u will have three chances to attempt Viva examination.
Appearing in the Viva/OSCE Examination
For viva examination, please do not forget to take ur White coat and stethoscope. In the Viva examiantion, there will be 40 stations of all clinical specialities. At each station, there will be short cases, Patient data with or without photographs, and Instruments of the relevant speciality. Instructions for candidates will be displayed clearly along with the examination material on each station. Time for each station will be 3 minutes, after which bell would ring and u will move to the next station as per rotation.
My OSCE examination
On stations of Medicine - The examiner asked me to do a complete abdominal examination of a patient and observed me while doing that and asked me several questions related to ascites. On the next station, the examiner asked me to do a complete lung examination and asked questions related to decreased vocal fremitus and pleural effusion. The next examiner asked me to examine the precordium and asked questions related to heart sounds. (Physiology of heart sounds). On the next station, there was a Chest X ray and i was asked to identify the abnormality. It was pleural effusion and he asked me several questions related to it.
On the surgery stations, examiners had cases like thyrotoxic goitre and inguinal hernia.There was a picture of a case with a parotid swelling and the examiner asked me the method of differentiating between the benign and malignant nature of the swelling on clinical ground and the complications of the surgery on the parotid.
On ENT stations, mouth and pharyngeal examination, Nasal speculum with nasal examination were asked. On ENT stations, a lot of Head & neck Anatomy is asked.
On Ophthalmo stations, there was a picture of a case with Unilateral Ptosis and the examiner asked me possible causes of it. On the other station, an examiner had ophthalmoscope and the she asked me to name it, the use of it (to view retina) and whether of not it provides the 3-D view of retina (it does not). Other examiners at the Ophthalmology stations asked me several definitions like that of glaucoma, cataract, conjunctivitis, retinopathy, stye, chalazion, trachoma etc.
On Obstetrics stations, an examiner had 'Obstetrical Forceps' on the table and asked me to recognise it and to tell me the prerequisites that should be met before using it etc.
Another examiner had a picture of Cusco's speculum and she asked me the uses of it. Another examiner had a picture of placenta praevia and she asked me questions related to it. (Is bleeding painful, Is uterus hard?). An examiner on Gyne asked me the definitions of menorrhagia, preeclampsia, tocolysis, antenatal diagnosis and the treatment of preeclampsia, etc.
On Paeds stations, there was a scenario on the table (a child with a cough, what questions would u ask in the history).Another examiner asked me to inspect the child and to delineate the abnormality. The child had anemia; he asked me questions about iron deficiency anemia, hemolytic anema and thalasemia. On the next station, there was a 'Paediatric NG tube'. I was asked to recignise it, to explain the method of its use, and the way its proper insertion is checked. On the next station, i was asked following questions. According to EPI being followed in Pak, what is the schedule of HBV immunization in a child? Maternal causes of malnutrition in pakistan? What risks a premature is at? etc.
Combined/Final Result
Final result will be out on the same day on the PMDC website by 10 pm. Passed candidates will be posted the 'Provisional Registration Certificate' in due course.
MY ADVISES:
To Prepare for PMDC, u should give special attention to MEDICINE, Obs /GYNE, SURGERY (General surgery part), ENT , Ophthalmology and Paediatrics in descending order of their importance. For preparing these subjects, u can study from any of ur course books. Which book u study does not matter, what matters is your knowledge !!!! However, following books are helpful for PMDC if studied;
MEDICINE (by Inam Danish - greatly helpful)
OBSTETRICS (Illustrated Obstetrics or any other book)
Gynaecology (by Latif/Yusuf or any other book)
SURGERY (by Ijaz Ahsan or shamim - greatly helpful)
ENT (Dingra)
Ophthalmology (Jogi)
Paediatrics ( by Pervez Akbar)
Golden Tip: "Learn important diseases/conditions with undivided attentions. Do not waste ur precious time reading the unnecessary stuff ." For instance, reading MYASTHENIA GRAVIS is not as important as knowing the STROKE . Select the most common illnesses in Pakistan and learn them with the best focus.
Prepare it well and leave rest to God.
Wish u all best of luck.
Regards,