Admission Starts for Kabardino-Balkarian State Medical University.
NEET UG 2023-Answer Key, Re-examination and more.
THE BIG QUESTION FOR UKRAINE RETURNED STUDENTS-WHAT NEXT?
Russia's invasion of Ukraine devastated infrastructure, notably affecting universities and students, including nearly 20,000 Indian medical students evacuated due to safety concerns. The prolonged conflict has left many students and families in despair, unsure about their academic paths amid ongoing uncertainties.
Amid government silence, students confronted ongoing uncertainty for over five months post-evacuation. While India celebrated Independence Day, these students wrestled with the murky future of their careers, prompting the hashtag #studentsindark.
Students took to Twitter, using hashtags and tagging authorities, including the Prime Minister, seeking government aid. The NMC, after silence, allowed pre-November 18, 2021, enrollees to transfer, while post-enrollees face FMGL Regulations, mandating training continuity or NEET clearance for Indian colleges.
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Guidelines for Foreign Medical Education: NMC's FMGL 2021
When questioned about the considerations before taking a transfer or new admission to a foreign medical institute/university, the NMC outlined guidelines for students governed by FMGL 2021. These students must complete the entire duration of the course, training, and internship or clerkship in the same foreign medical institution. No part of medical training and internship shall be done in India or any country other than the country from which the primary medical qualification has been obtained. Before seeking admission to a foreign institute/university, medical students are advised to ensure the following provisions of FMGL Regulations 2021 to avoid hardships upon returning to India:
NMC Guidelines for Foreign Medical Education & FMGE Eligibility
Minimum duration of the undergraduate course/degree of fifty-four months (4.5 years).
Internship for a minimum duration of twelve months in the same foreign medical institution.
Medium of instruction in English.
Mandatory subjects specified in Schedule-I of FMGL Regulations 2021.
Recognition by the respective professional regulatory body competent to grant the license to practice medicine in the country where the medical degree is awarded.
The NMC clarified that students will not be accommodated in Indian medical colleges under any circumstances. For final-year students, the NMC allows them to sit for the FMGE in December if they have received their certificates of completion before June 30, 2023. Those receiving certificates after this date must wait another six months for the next exam in June 2023.
Addressing the fuss about the Mobility program offered by Ukraine, the NMC stated that they do not approve any such program. Rumors about Ukraine-returned Foreign Medical Students being accommodated in Indian medical colleges were circulating, but no official declaration was made.
Internship Requirements for FMGE 2021 Foreign Medical Students
In response to a common question about the internship duration for Foreign Medical Students governed by FMGE 2021, they are required to undergo an internship with a minimum duration of twelve months in the same foreign medical institution. Additionally, they must undergo a supervised internship in India for a minimum term of twelve months after qualifying the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination. Internship regulations are as per the provisions of the National Medical Commission (Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship) Regulations 2021.
Foreign Medical Students covered under Screening Test Regulations, 2002, may change or transfer their institute/university, subject to fulfilling criteria and conditions laid down in Screening Test Regulations, 2002. This flexibility allows students to opt for a five-year degree course even if they initially chose a six-year course.
Supreme Court's Favorable Verdict for Students Pursuing MBBS Abroad
The Supreme Court delivered a favorable verdict for students who have obtained an MBBS degree from abroad. Let’s find out what was said:
The Supreme Court (SC) has stated that discrimination cannot be practiced against interns who have obtained medical degrees from abroad. Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Prasanna Bhalchandra Varale’s bench examined the arguments presented by advocate Tanvi Dubey on behalf of some doctors, highlighting that in certain medical colleges, foreign medical graduates were not being paid stipends during their internships. In New Delhi, PTI: The Supreme Court has ruled that discrimination against interns with medical degrees from abroad is impermissible. They should receive stipends during their internships, akin to their peers who have completed MBBS from Indian colleges.
The colleges received a warning from the Supreme Court: The colleges were cautioned that if they failed to comply with the previous orders regarding stipend payments, strict measures would be taken. Medical colleges cannot discriminate between MBBS and foreign medical graduates. The bench instructed the National Medical Commission (NMC) and medical colleges to reconsider this issue.
The demand for reports from three colleges: Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Prasanna Bhalchandra Varale’s bench, prompted by advocate Tanvi Dubey’s arguments, addressed unpaid stipends for foreign medical graduates. The court requested reports from specific colleges, emphasizing the necessity of stipend payments.