The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Indian medical students who have returned from Ukraine, China and the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic and war to clear the MBBS final examination in two attempts as per the existing National Medical Commission (NMC) syllabus. Guidelines without getting enrolled in any Medical College of India.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath modified the Centre’s suggestion of allowing them only one attempt as a one-time measure and disposed of all the petitions by the medical students.
The Center has submitted a report of an expert committee which has said that as a one-time extraordinary measure, final year students should be allowed to appear for the MBBS final examination.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said a committee was constituted by the government on the issue in view of the court’s direction.
The court observed that it was not an expert and largely accepted the recommendation made by the committee, but said that the only concern was the recommendation that students were to be given only one attempt to qualify the MBBS examination and hence it was modified.
The bench said that it is passing the order keeping in view the special circumstances.
The top court was hearing petitions by medical students who completed seven semesters in their respective foreign universities, and had to return to India due to the pandemic and complete their undergraduate medical course through online mode.
The batch of petitions primarily sought accommodation and other relief for such first to fourth year undergraduate students from various medical colleges/universities in India.
On December 30, 2022, the Center constituted a committee under the chairmanship of DGHS to find some possible solutions to the problems being faced by foreign medical graduates from Ukraine/China who have attended online classes of undergraduate medical courses from the final year. have completed Ahead of.
The panel had recommended that students be given a “single chance” to clear the MBBS Final, Part-I and Part-II (both theory and practical) as per the existing NMC syllabus and guidelines without enrolling in any existing Indian Could Medical college. This recommendation was modified by the apex court as on two occasions.
“They may appear and qualify the examination within a period of one year. Part-I will be followed by Part-II after one year. Part II will be permitted only after Part-I is passed,” The committee has recommended. The theory paper exams may be conducted centrally and physically on the lines of the Indian MBBS exam and practicals may be conducted by some of the designated government medical colleges that have been entrusted with the responsibility.
The panel has said that after passing these two exams, they will have to complete a compulsory rotatory internship of two years, of which the first year will be free and the second year paid as decided by the NMC for past cases.
“However, the Committee has emphasized that this option is strictly a one-time option and does not form the basis for a similar decision in future and would be applicable to the present case only in view of the Court’s directions in the matter. ” its recommendation.
The top court had on December 9 last year asked the Center to find a solution to this “humanitarian problem” in consultation with the National Medical Commission.
“We are sure that the Union of India will give due importance to our suggestion and find a solution for these students, who are unquestionably an asset to the nation and especially, when there is a shortage of doctors in the country.” Said.
It was noted that a very precarious situation has arisen, the students have already completed their course and are now concerned to complete the clinical training as regards the relationship between them and their respective institute. It will not be possible for them to return to institutions. Separate.
The apex court had said that all the students have already passed the foreign medical graduate examination and suggested that the Center may consider appointing a committee in the field to find a solution.
It agreed with the view of the Center that in a medical curriculum, practical/clinical training is of utmost importance and academic studies cannot take the color of practical training.
The bench had said that there are many situations which are beyond human control and a situation like the Covid pandemic has been unimaginable.
“We find that the careers of nearly 500 medical students who have already put in five years of study are at stake. They have already completed seven semesters of study physically and three semesters through online. .. The parents of the students would have incurred an expense, the apex court had said, adding that if a solution is not found at this stage, the entire career of these students would be left in limbo, besides causing hardship to the families.
The text of this story is published from a wire agency feed without any modification. Only the headline has been changed.