No, its nothing standardized at all. And selective study works a great deal in UHS exams as well.. You will find most of the hostelites and other local students will try to use the slimmest books available on the market which are pretty much indian/pakistani authored books (well, simply plagiarized summaries of American books). The teachers will recommend some of the bigger standard books.
Plus there is really no standard book for any subject. Some books help you learn the subject, some books help you pass the UHS exams, some books help you pass your local college exam, and some books are helpful in the long run for the USMLE.
Breaking it down for you . (also for all subjects, get old University Questions books and study all the old questions they tend to come again and again in a different format)
1. Physiology
--> The STANDARD book = Guytons Physiology
--> The LOCAL Book could be Firdaus Physiology, a Pakistani one which some pakis study exclusively from, and just literally memorize it front to back and they get super high marks on the exams but have NO concept whatsoever!
--> Another LOCAL Book = Mushtaq Physiology, two book set. Kinda complicted because no outline, he throws everything at you... but.. It covers almost everything that could come on an exam.
--> UNDERSTANDING Book = Sherwood physiology, quite good if you can still find one.
2. Biochemistry - Lots of different books here.
--> STANDARD BOOK - Nothing standard really available in Pakistan that anyone uses, their all really really good American Revision books most people think they are standard though but you dont need the proper standard book so we use the following, I suggest you buy both.
--> LIPINCOTT
--> HARPERS
Then the LOCAL BOOK --> Mushtaq Biochemistry, most the students will use these. Total crap but total necessity because it covers everything for first year. You will literally need to memorize this book from front to back.
Other LOCAL REVIEW Books --> Faiq, and some other concise.
3. Gross Anatomy (the parts of the body)
--> LOCAL/INDIAN BOOK --> "the budda" aka BD Churasia Anatomy. For most w/no prioer medical education this book will be good to start with to pass the exams as it basically summarizes the entire body into what they will like to ask in the exams here.
--> STANDARD REFERENCE --> Grays Anatomy.. Ok Just cuz you like the TV show, dont buy this book. Its a HUGE book you will NEVER be able to study from this!!!
--> Students Favorites who are kinda foreigner acting, kinda cheap paki acting is SNELLS ANATOMY and SNELLS NEUROANATOMY.. Probably the best book for learning and still passing the exams.
--> MY FAVORITE --> Keith L. Moore anatomy. Excellent book!!!! But dont use this exclusively unless you like to learn and remember for the rest of your life what you studied .
4. General Anatomy --> Use whatever local book everyone else uses, tiny subject explaining what bones are and how we define structures on human body, ie medial/lateral, body position etc.
5. Histology --> Some subject concerned with the microscope and slides of tissues. Get one good book, an ATLAS which has pictures.. And get a local book, I forget the name, which helps with passing the exam on this.
6. Embryology --> Get the standard books, One is Keith L. Moore embryo, and the other is Langermans or something like that. Also get the Board Review Series book for Embryo.
Get it? Got it? Good =)
BTW For all the books I mentioned, specially the American ones... Get the REAL Editions not the fake pirated ones. The fake ones are cheaper but made of gross paper and it hurts your eyes to read. Unless you are really unsure about the book then get the fake one first.. But in the end you end up getting the expensive one so your a foreigner can afford it... Just make sure to have your local shalwar paki friend buy them for you cuz if they see your a foreigner they charge a lot more for books!!