New Delhi : The Government has restored an old provision requiring an eligibility certificate from the Medical Council of India (MCI) before going abroad for medical education. The MCI will issue the certificate only after examining the candidate’s educational certificates.
The MCI clearance was earlier mandatory but it was waived some years ago. The Government is restoring this requirement on noticing that many students returning after obtaining medical degrees are not allowed to practice since they did not have the minimum qualifications to take admission in the medical colleges abroad. In any case, anybody having a medical degree from abroad has to sit in a screening test to qualify for practicing in India but those not having even minimum qualifications for admission are turned away, resulting in their years wasted.
The MCI has made it mandatory that any student going abroad for medical education in 2016-17 must secure the eligibility certificate and produce it when he appears for the screening test for practicing in India after obtaining the degree. Anyone not producing the eligibility certificate will not be allowed to appear in the screening test.
4-in-1 NEET: Meanwhile, the Government is contemplating to make the NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) compulsory for admissions in the PG courses in any medical college in the country a “4-in-1” test. The first NEET for the PG admissions is slated in December.
Though no decision has been taken yet, the proposal is that those securing MBBS degree from the private colleges or from abroad will have to appear in NEET as an “exit test.” A Health Ministry joint secretary said the “exit test” has been felt necessary for those passing from the private colleges since questions are raised on the quality of education they undergo. The foreign degree holders will not have to appear for screening test to practice in India as a doctor as it would be also built into the “exit test.” Those coming in merit will also be eligible for admission in the PG courses.
