Bangladeshi doctors can now sit for the full Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) PACES examination in the country for the first time, following the completion of the three-day assessment held from 11 to 13 November at Evercare Hospital Dhaka.
According to a press release, 45 young doctors from across Bangladesh participated in the Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills, marking a milestone for the nation’s medical education and specialist training system.
Bangladeshi candidates have been able to sit for the written Part 1 and Part 2 MRCP exams locally since 2012, but the absence of a recognised practical examination centre forced them to travel to India, Singapore, Sri Lanka or the UK. Many qualified candidates were unable to attempt the clinical exam due to high costs, making the launch of the full MRCP PACES examination in Dhaka a widely welcomed development.
Representatives from the Federation of the Royal College of Physicians in the UK, led by Chair of PACES Dhaka Dr Stuart Hood, examined the candidates alongside 15 Bangladeshi senior physicians.
The exam was conducted locally under the leadership of Federation Lead Bangladesh Prof Quazi Tarikul Islam of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK.
Evercare Hospitals Bangladesh supported the initiative through its senior leadership, including CEO Evercare Hospitals Bangladesh Ratnadeep Chaskar, Group Medical Director Evercare Hospitals Bangladesh Arif Mahmud, and Deputy Director of Operations and Hospitality Evercare Hospital Dhaka Mohammad Kamal Uddin Siddiqui.
The press release said hosting the MRCP PACES exam in Dhaka is expected to strengthen the country’s clinical training capability, reduce financial barriers for young doctors and elevate Bangladesh’s position in global medical education. Evercare Hospital Dhaka plans to host the exam twice a year.
