Doctors with Foreign MBBS Degree Can Join PG Course- Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court on 28th August 2019 made its decision to allow a doctor who had a foreign MBBS degree to pursue postgraduate studies in Indian deemed universities after the state said that it has no objections regarding the same.

A division bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and Akil Kureshi was hearing a petition filed by Dr. Shantanu Chandrasekhar. He has an MD degree which is equivalent to MBBS from a Russian University. He challenged rule 82 of Medical Council of India 2017 NEET- PG policy. The policy does not allow the student with MBB degree from foreign varsities to pursue postgraduate courses in medicine in Indian universities.

Milind Sathe, Senior Advocate, who was representing the petitioner informed the bench that Chandrasekhar has passed the eligibility test and has also completed an internship at a Delhi Hospital in the year 2017. However, when he wanted to appear for the NEET-PG 2017, he could not do so due to rule 82.

Also Read: Lucknow Medical Students to have Happiness Classes

It is then he challenged the policy in the High Court, on the grounds that a doctor with a foreign MBBS degree was allowed to intern/ practic in Indian hospitals but are restricted from pursuing postgraduate courses in deemed or government university.

In an earlier hearing, the bench gave the petitioner interim relief and allowed him to take admission in a deemed university offering postgraduate courses. Hiten Venegaonkar, Counsel for the State informed that the government has no problem in Chandrashekhar pursuing the PG course in a deemed university in India. Bombay High Court said that it is making the interim belief absolute.

Also Read: NMC Fails to Fill Gaps in Medical Reforms

With NMC taking charge of Medical Education India there are many reforms that are in pipeline. The medical education system in India will be completely revamped for example recently the inclusion of ethics in MBBS course.