Health & Policy | July 2026 | 3 min read
⚡ Quick Takeaways
- Punjab has made the Post Graduate Entrance Test mandatory for Level-III residency admissions.
- The rule applies from the January 2027 induction cycle for postgraduate medical training.
- Candidates for MS, MD, MDS and FCPS programs must qualify before induction consideration.
- The University of Health Sciences, Lahore will conduct the entrance test.
- A minimum qualifying percentile of 75 has been fixed for passing the examination.
Punjab has introduced a new mandatory entrance test for doctors seeking admission to Level-III postgraduate medical residency programs, changing the route into MS, MD, MDS and FCPS training from the January 2027 induction cycle.
| Jan 2027 first affected induction |
75 minimum qualifying percentile |
UHS test conducting university |
PGET Becomes Mandatory From January 2027
The Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department has notified that the Post Graduate Entrance Test, or PGET, will be a mandatory requirement for induction into Level-III postgraduate residency training programs in Punjab. The new condition will apply from the January 2027 induction, giving candidates and institutions time to prepare for the updated admission process.
The decision was taken on the recommendations of the Post Graduate Admission Committee during its meeting held on July 8, 2026. The notification was issued in Lahore on July 9, 2026, under the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department’s Medical Education Wing.
| Policy shift: PGET is now an entry condition, but final eligibility and merit will still follow the department’s notified residency admission criteria. |
Which Programs and Candidates Are Covered
The new requirement covers candidates seeking admission to MS, MD, MDS and FCPS residency training programs in Punjab. These programs fall under Level-III postgraduate residency training, which is an important pathway for doctors who want to move into specialist medical and dental training.
Under the notification, candidates will need to qualify for the entrance test before they can be considered for induction. This means the test will become a screening stage in the admission process, alongside the existing eligibility and merit framework already notified by the department.
UHS Lahore Will Conduct the Test
The University of Health Sciences, Lahore has been assigned the responsibility to conduct the Post Graduate Entrance Test. The notification also fixes the minimum qualifying pass percentile at 75, making the test a serious requirement rather than a simple formality for applicants.
However, several operational details are still awaited. The test schedule, application procedure, syllabus, examination pattern and related arrangements will be notified separately by UHS Lahore. Candidates planning to apply for the January 2027 induction will therefore need to monitor UHS and department announcements closely.
| Requirement | Notified Detail | Candidate Impact |
| Effective cycle | January 2027 induction | Applicants must prepare before the next intake. |
| Covered programs | MS, MD, MDS and FCPS | Major Level-III residency routes are included. |
| Conducting body | UHS Lahore | Test notices will come from the university. |
| Pass benchmark | 75 qualifying percentile | Candidates must meet the minimum percentile. |
| Merit rules | Existing notified criteria continue | PGET adds a condition, not a full replacement. |
Source: Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department notification dated July 9, 2026.
Applicants Should Wait for UHS Details
For now, the notification gives the broad rule but not the full examination guide. Candidates should wait for the official UHS announcement before relying on any unofficial syllabus, sample paper or application timeline. The most important confirmed points are the January 2027 start, the UHS role and the 75 qualifying percentile.
The change is likely to affect preparation timelines for young doctors, especially those planning to apply for competitive specialties. A separate entrance test may push candidates to plan earlier, organize documents sooner and track official deadlines more carefully. Medical universities and teaching hospitals will also need to guide applicants once the test pattern and procedure are formally released.
| Applicant note: Do not treat social media posts as the final test guide. The schedule, syllabus and pattern should be confirmed from UHS Lahore once officially announced. |
Disclaimer: This article is based on the Punjab Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department notification and available public reporting. Candidates should confirm final rules, dates and test details through official UHS and department channels.
