Can’t move to next level of MBBS without exam: MCI

Can’t move to next level of MBBS without exam: MCI

Yogita.Rao@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:  05.08.2020

Medical Council of India has advised universities not to permit any batch of students to move to the next level of MBBS without an exam in a circular on Tuesday. It was meant to clear the air over queries and representations from stakeholders on re-opening of medical colleges and conduct of university exams. The council also indicated that final year MBBS students can join internships after passing final exams.

State medical education minister Amit Deshmukh had earlier directed Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) to start classes for first, second and third year undergraduate students. He also told them to allow final year students to start internships and to conduct exams whenever the situation improves. Following this advisory from the council, though colleges affiliated to MUHS can commence lectures, they may not be able to allow students to start internships without exams.

The council has told universities to conduct pending supplementary exams for final year MBBS students, scheduled in the first half of 2020, at the earliest “...as the students have completed the course once and need not wait for the formal reopening of colleges. Such students will be joining college/hospitals for internships after passing final exams”.

Colleges were directed to complete first year MBBS course for 2019 batch within two months of reopening of colleges and then conduct the exam, preferably within a month. MCI had revised syllabus for first year MBBS batch of 2019 and directed holding of the exam by September, an MUHS official said. But after Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, their course was disrupted midway. MCI also advised universities to complete the course for other classes in two months and then conduct the exams.

The council also suggested alternatives to get external examiners for conduct of the exam.

For practicals and clinical examination, MCI recommended alternative methods of skill evaluation that can include simulations, case scenarios, objectives structured clinical or practical examinations. The advisory is a one-time measure in view of Covid-19, it stated.

MUHS exam controller Ajit Pathak said their priority will be to hold certifying exams first in compliance with MCI and state government directives. But he did not elaborate as the matter is sub judice and is scheduled for hearing later this month.

A parent representative, Sudha Shenoy, said the MCI directive was fair as students cannot be sent for internships without clinical exposure, which is a vital part of their final year curriculum.