The Union Health Ministry is contemplating the possibility of drafting a policy or a system that would allow Indian MBBS students affected by the Ukraine crisis and the epidemic to finish their degrees at Indian colleges.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) asked for the health ministry's opinion after the Supreme Court directed the regulatory body to draft a programme in two months. This schemewould allow Ukraine-returnedMBBS students to finish their clinical training at Indian medical colleges.
The external affairs ministry also wrote to the health ministry, asking for a one-time exception to allow students to enrol in Indian private medical institutions.
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There have been preliminary discussions about the possible formulation of a programme or scheme to assist Indian medical students affected by the Ukraine crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
There are currently no NMC policies to assist Indian students seeking medical degrees overseas who had to returnhome in the middle of their academic sessions.
Though the actual number of such students is uncertain, estimates imply that there could be over 20,000 students. It is challenging to accommodate such a large number of students in Indiancolleges between academic sessions. According to a source, discussions are ongoing to find a solution, but nothing concrete has been decided.
The NMC stated in a circular that the same may be processed by state medical councils. Before applying for an internship in India, candidates must have passed the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination.
It further ordered the commission to investigate or test the candidate in such a scheme further to ensure that they are adequately trained to gain provisional registration and complete a 12-month internship.
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As per the NMC's letter, the apex court was informed that many medical students returning from Ukraine would be in different semesters. However, the court held that the system should include appropriate arrangements for students who had returned from Ukraine.
The NMC does not maintain any list or data pertaining to Indian citizens pursuing medical qualification(s) in any foreign medical institute after takingthe NEET exam.
Taking into account the Supreme Court's ruling dated April 29, 2022, the Ministry of Health is requested to submit its opinions on the issue of offering clinical training to foreign medical graduates in India, the NMC secretary said in the letter.
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Source: Times Now