In a surprising development, 81% of candidates failed the written examination for medical officer positions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to recently announced results. The written test was conducted a few days ago under the supervision of the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA).
Out of 8,974 applicants who appeared for the exam, only 1,766 candidates managed to pass. This means that over 7,200 doctors failed to meet the required merit for the recruitment process. The test was held for 8,115 vacant posts across the province.
The poor performance has raised serious concerns about the quality of medical graduates applying for public sector jobs. Experts and officials have called for improvements in medical education and exam preparation to ensure better outcomes in future recruitment drives.
Moreover, this high failure rate could delay the hiring process and worsen the already existing shortage of doctors in government hospitals, especially in remote areas. Health departments may now have to re-evaluate their strategies to attract qualified and competent professionals.
The results have sparked debate on social media, with many questioning the level of training and education being provided in medical institutions. Others have demanded greater transparency in the testing system to ensure fair recruitment.
As the province continues to face challenges in the healthcare sector, authorities must take urgent steps to strengthen the medical workforce and review the reasons behind such poor test outcomes.