Sindh Post-Graduate Residency Policy 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
Your most common questions about the new Sindh CIP, answered in one place
Since we shared our breakdown of the Sindh Post-Graduate Residency Policy, 2026, we’ve received hundreds of questions from doctors across the province. This FAQ compiles the most frequently asked ones, organized by topic, with clear answers based directly on the official notification (No. SO(ME)PGRS/2026, dated 17th July 2026).
Note: Where the policy notification itself doesn’t provide a clear answer, we’ve said so explicitly rather than guessing — please confirm those specific points with your institute’s PG office, DUHS, or the Health Department.
General Applicability
Does this policy apply to private hospitals and institutes as well, or only government ones?
Yes. The policy applies to both public and private sector institutions. Section 5 of the notification is explicitly titled “Guidelines and Requirements for Public and Private Candidate Admission,” and the circulation list includes Vice Chancellors of Private Sector Medical Universities and Principals of Private Sector Medical Colleges.
Will private institutes still be allowed to conduct their own separate entry test?
The policy’s intent is to bring all institutes under one centralized DUHS test. However, some highly autonomous private institutions (such as Aga Khan University) have historically run independent admission systems, and the notification doesn’t explicitly name every private hospital. Whether such institutions fully align with this centralized system isn’t confirmed in the document — this is best verified directly with those specific institutions.
Does this apply to Dentistry (BDS/MDS)?
Yes. Dentistry is listed among the major FCPS-I groups with its own Specialty Post-Graduate Committee, and BDS/MDS are named as entry/exit qualifications in the policy’s training-level framework.
Does this apply to M.Phil programs as well?
Yes. M.Phil is listed as one of the Level II exit qualifications alongside Diploma and MCPS, so it falls under this policy.
Is JPMC included in this policy?
This isn’t explicitly confirmed. JPMC is a federally administered institute, and the notification’s circulation list names Sindh’s provincial universities and colleges without specifically mentioning JPMC. This is best confirmed directly with JPMC’s administration or the Health Department.
Does this apply to residents who were already inducted before this notification, or only to new candidates going forward?
The notification doesn’t explicitly address this. As a general principle, new policies typically apply to inductions going forward rather than retroactively changing the terms for trainees already inducted — but this isn’t explicitly stated in the document.
Does this apply to MBBS graduates of upcoming years (e.g., 2027) as well?
Yes. Since the policy doesn’t specify an expiry date, it should apply to any candidate applying for induction after 17th July 2026, regardless of their graduating year.
The Centralized Entry Test
Is there now a single centralized test for all institutes?
Yes. One centralized entry test, conducted by Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), now governs admissions for FCPS, MD, MS, MCPS, and Diploma programs across Sindh, replacing separate institute-wise tests.
Will the same test be conducted for all specialties, or different tests for different specialties?
The notification doesn’t specify this directly. Based on how DUHS has historically run its FCPS-II entry tests, exams tend to be grouped by specialty category (such as “Surgery & Allied” or “Medicine Allied”) rather than one uniform test for every specialty — but this should be confirmed once DUHS releases its exam notification.
What will be the exam pattern, and what should candidates study?
The policy notification doesn’t lay out the exam pattern or syllabus — it only confirms the passing requirement (50%). Based on precedent, expect an MCQ-based test covering basic medical sciences and specialty-relevant knowledge, similar in spirit to FCPS-I subjects. The confirmed syllabus and pattern should come from DUHS directly.
Is FCPS Part 1 still required as a separate exam?
Yes. FCPS Part 1 remains a separate exam conducted by CPSP and is not replaced by this policy. This centralized DUHS test is specifically for induction into training (Level II/III), not a substitute for FCPS Part 1.
Do we need to clear FCPS Part 1 or MCPS Part 1 before giving the DUHS entry test?
Only if you’re applying through the FCPS or MCPS stream specifically. For MD/MS/Diploma (the university stream), FCPS Part 1 is not required.
When will the test be conducted — which months, and will it apply this year?
The policy states induction will be conducted bi-annually but doesn’t name specific months in the notification itself. Since the policy is already notified, it should apply from the next induction cycle onward, with exact dates to be announced separately by DUHS or the Provincial Post-Graduate Committee (PPC).
Merit Score Calculation (Annexure A)
How is the 100-mark merit score calculated?
It’s the sum of: MBBS Aggregate (20 marks in-service / 30 private), Attempts (5 marks), Entry Test (45 in-service / 55 private), House Job (5 marks), Research Papers (5 marks), and — for in-service candidates only — Service Experience (up to 20 marks).
How exactly is the MBBS aggregate calculated?
Formula: (sum of your marks across all MBBS professional exams ÷ total possible marks across all professionals) × 20 (in-service) or × 30 (private candidates).
What does the “Attempts” criterion mean — is it about FCPS attempts or MBBS attempts?
It refers to your MBBS professional exam attempts (1st Prof, 2nd Prof, etc.) — not FCPS attempts. You get 1 full point for passing each professional exam on the first attempt, 0.5 for a second attempt (including a supplementary/year-back sitting), and 0 for a third attempt.
Do FCPS exam attempts affect the merit score?
No. The Attempts criterion in the merit formula is tied only to MBBS professional exams, not FCPS attempts.
Do House Job marks require completing House Job at one specific institution?
The 5 House Job marks are awarded only if your House Job was completed at your parent teaching hospital or graduating institute. If it was done elsewhere — even through a university-arranged rotation — you may not qualify for these marks; this is worth confirming directly with your institute.
Is research mandatory to apply?
No. If you have no published research, you simply score 0 out of the 5 research marks — it doesn’t disqualify you or prevent you from applying.
What types of research papers count toward the merit marks?
The policy only specifies “papers published in National/International Impact Factor Journals” — an acceptance letter alone doesn’t count; the paper must actually be published. Original research articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses are generally understood to qualify. Case reports and Letters to the Editor are more ambiguous and typically weighted lower in similar academic scoring systems — this should be confirmed with your institute’s PG office.
Do marks apply only to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd authors, or also to later authors?
Only 1st, 2nd, or 3rd author positions earn the 2.5 marks per paper (maximum 2 papers = 5 marks total). Fourth author or beyond is not mentioned as eligible.
How many years of government service qualify for the full 20 Service Experience marks?
2.5 years of service within the last 5 years at a priority primary or secondary healthcare facility (as notified by the Health Department) qualifies for the full 20 points. The same duration at a non-priority primary/secondary facility earns 8 points, and at a tertiary care hospital earns only 4 points.
Does service at a PPHI-run facility count toward the 20 Service Experience marks?
This isn’t explicitly clarified in the notification. Since PPHI operates many BHU/RHC facilities on behalf of the Sindh government, it’s reasonable to expect this service would count, but this should be confirmed directly with the Health Department given the significant marks at stake.
In-Service Candidates, EOL, and Bonds
What does “in-service candidate” mean?
It refers to a candidate already employed in a government job (such as a government hospital or Health Department post) at the time of applying, as opposed to a “private candidate” without such a government service background.
Can someone already working as a trainee in a teaching hospital appear in the next induction test?
Yes. Being an in-service trainee doesn’t disqualify you from applying for the next induction cycle.
Can newly appointed Medical Officers with less than 3 years of service appear in the test?
Yes. The 3-year regular service requirement only affects eligibility for Extra-Ordinary Leave (EOL) or paid Study Leave — it doesn’t affect eligibility to sit the entry test or be selected.
What is EOL, and what is the bond associated with it?
Extra-Ordinary Leave (EOL) is unpaid leave granted to in-service candidates with 3+ years of regular service, allowing them to join PG training in stipend-paying programs. Non-stipend programs instead offer paid Study Leave. In return for EOL, candidates must sign a surety bond to serve the Health Department for 5 years after training (or until retirement, whichever is less); breaking this bond requires refunding the salary received during training.
Seats, Quotas, and Allocation
How will candidates be allocated to their desired institute after passing the test?
Through a merit-cum-availability system: candidates submit their specialty and institute preferences as part of the application, and final placement depends on their merit ranking against seat availability at each preferred institute.
Will seat numbers for each institute be announced publicly, and will seat numbers increase?
Seat numbers will be calculated, notified, and advertised publicly before induction begins. However, the policy doesn’t guarantee an overall increase in seats — it only authorizes the Provincial Post-Graduate Committee to allocate additional seats specifically for specialties facing an acute shortage.
What is the domicile-based quota distribution for seats?
93% Sindh Domicile, 1% Disabled (Sindh), 4% Other Provinces/AJK/Gilgit, and 2% Foreign Candidates. Additionally, 20% of allocated slots are reserved for government employees who pass both written and oral components.
Can candidates with Punjab or Balochistan domicile apply?
Yes, under the 4% “Other Provinces/AJK/Gilgit” quota.
Priority Specialties and Sub-Specialty Pathway
What are the priority specialties in Annexure B, and do they improve chances of getting a seat?
Annexure B lists specialties and sub-specialties considered “essential shortage” areas, ranging from Anaesthesiology and Emergency Medicine to Cardiac Surgery and various Paediatric sub-specialties. Universities must reserve at least one MD/MS seat per priority specialty per session, which gives these specialties a guaranteed seat — though highly competitive ones (like Cardiac Surgery or Neurosurgery) remain difficult to get despite being on this list.
What is the pathway to sub-specialty (Level IV) after completing FCPS or MD training?
After completing any Level III qualification (MD, MS, MDS, FCPS, or PhD), candidates become eligible for Level IV Sub-Specialty training (2+ years). Selection is through an interview conducted by a panel commissioned by the Provincial Post-Graduate Committee, not the 100-mark merit formula.
Mandatory Peripheral Rotation
Is the 4-month mandatory DHQ/THQ rotation only for hospitals outside Karachi?
Yes. The Health Department will notify specific DHQ/THQ hospitals for this rotation, excluding those located in Karachi.
If someone’s entire training is based in Karachi, will they still have to do the peripheral rotation?
Likely yes — the exemption applies to hospitals located within Karachi being used as rotation sites, not to trainees whose base institute happens to be in Karachi. Such trainees would simply be sent to a non-Karachi DHQ/THQ within the same division.
Exit Policy and Penalties
What happens if I get selected but decide not to join?
You’ll be debarred from the next induction cycle. This applies regardless of whether the seat matched your preferred institute or specialty.
What if I abandon the program after joining?
You’ll be debarred for the next three induction cycles and required to refund the entire stipend received during training.
Pay and Stipend
What does the policy say about stipend amounts?
The notification doesn’t fix a specific stipend amount. It only states that candidates on Extra-Ordinary Leave remain eligible for stipends “from the teaching institutions, as applicable,” while non-stipend programs offer paid Study Leave instead. Actual stipend amounts depend on each institute’s own arrangement, not a fixed provincial rate.
Will MD/MS programs be paid?
Not guaranteed uniformly — whether a specific MD/MS seat is stipend-paying depends on that institute’s own structure, as the policy doesn’t standardize this.
About This Notification
Is this an authentic, official policy?
Yes. It is an official Government of Sindh Health Department notification — No. SO(ME)PGRS/2026, dated 17th July 2026 — issued after Provincial Cabinet approval and formally circulated to PM&DC, CPSP, and the Vice Chancellors of major Sindh medical universities including DUHS, JSMU, and LUMHS.
Disclaimer: This FAQ is based on our interpretation of the official notification (No. SO(ME)PGRS/2026, dated 17th July 2026) issued by the Health Department, Government of Sindh. Where the notification itself does not provide a clear answer, we have said so explicitly. Candidates should confirm implementation details, exam dates, and institute-specific matters directly with DUHS, the Provincial Post-Graduate Committee, or their respective institutions.
For more FCPS-I guidance, past papers, and induction updates, keep following drimranaliarain.com.
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