NEET Mandatory to Pursue Medical Courses Abroad?

The Central Government has been successful in mandating NEET for the admission to undergraduate medical courses in India. Further, it is eyeing to make NEET mandatory for the students who wish to pursue medical courses abroad. The Union Health Ministry has already started discussions with the stakeholders to roll out the plan. If approved, the candidates aspiring to study medicine abroad will not get the Essentiality Certificate (EC) unless they clear NEET examination in India. Medical Council of India is the body responsible for issuing the Essentiality Certificate in India.

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The idea of NEET examination for the admission to medical courses was implemented in 2013 initially. After various efforts, the centre mandated NEET for the admission to medical and dental courses in India only last year. Making NEET mandatory to study medicine, is however, a positive move. However, the final decision in this regard will take some more time.

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The government is also in plans to issue Essentiality Certificates (ECs) to those who secured admission in top colleges abroad. On the other hand, students who complete medicine abroad must clear Foreign Medical Graduates Examination or FMGE to practice medicine in India.

Every year, the pass percentage of Indian students in FMGE ranges between 10 -15 percent. The poor pass percentage is due to the quantity of intake and quality of training imparted by the medical colleges. Many students who complete five and a half year medicine course abroad are unable to practice medicine in India as they are unable to clear the FMGE examination. Mandating NEET to study medicine abroad might improve the quality of education in this field.