Bengal medical aspirants face problems in going abroad

The medical students of Bengal intending to study in Bangladesh and Nepal are facing troubles following a decision taken up by the Centre making clearance of the NEET examination mandatory.

It has been found that a huge number of students from Bengal go to other countries to obtain undergraduate medical degrees from foreign universities.

The proposal and a detailed plan to make NEET compulsory has already been submitted to the Medical Council of India (MCI) for its consideration. The proposed policy would be implemented throughout the country and all the candidates eager to go abroad for medical studies have to clear the NEET. As per the plan, the new policy would be implemented from the next academic year.

According to a source, NEET would be made mandatory for the medical aspirants who travel abroad for obtaining their medical degree. There have been suggestions by the Union Health Ministry that in case the aspirants fails to clear the NEET examination, they will not be given the no- objection certificate for studying in foreign universities.

Many candidates from Bengal prefer to get their undergraduate medical courses from universities in China as the cost of the entire course is around Rs 20 lakh there. The cost goes up to Rs 20-30 lakhs in Bangladesh and Rs 30-40 lakh in case of Nepal. The entire course fees in Russia is lesser as a candidate has to pay around Rs 6-7 lakh for an undergraduate medical degree. However, a candidate has to pay a few crores if he or she wants to obtain the degree from Australia.

Till last year, the candidates having a medical degree from foreign universities would have to appear a screening test conducted by the MCI for practicing in any part of the country. As there was no specific eligibility examination for the candidates who were going to other countries for undergraduate degrees from the universities abroad, as a result, a large number of students from Bengal and other states were getting their undergraduate degrees from abroad. It has been found that the percentage of the students qualifying the screening examination is pitifully low. Once a candidate having an undergraduate degree from foreign university fails to clear the examination, the MCI does not allow their registration to practice in the country.

As per the MCI norms, the candidates with 50 percent marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology in any 10+2 level examinations were eligible to pursue a MBBS degree. This was the minimum criterion to opt for a medical degree from foreign countries as well. According to the Centre's plan, the candidates willing to go abroad have to get minimum eligibility marks in the NEET to opt for foreign universities.

According to a senior MCI official, the quality of the students who go abroad is not up to the mark and less than a quarter of students clear the screening test every year conducted by the MCI. As per the Indian Medical Council Act, 2001, the citizens with undergraduate degrees from outside India need to clear the screening tests conducted every June and December, with a 50 percent score, before doing a one-year internship in an MCI-recognised medical college.