Govt exploring ways to help evacuees complete studies

Govt exploring ways to help evacuees complete studies

TNN | Mar 4, 2022, 05.29 AM IST

NEW DELHI: With the future of many Indian students who were pursuing medical education in war-torn Ukraine in limbo, the government along with the National Medical Commission of India is discussing possibilities to accommodate such students in either Indian medical colleges or those abroad so that they can complete their courses. “There is a need to examine this on humanitarian grounds. We will have to see how many such students are affected, how many of them are in third or fourth year and what are the existing provisions. We will do whatever possible to support them,” a senior official said.

The commission, health ministry and member from Niti Aayog is expected to meet soon to deliberate on the issue, sources said.

Another official from the health ministry said the concerned departments are examining it and the government will do whatever possible to support such students.

According to a source, the government is looking at possibilities of whether provisions can be made on humanitarian ground to accommodate such students from Ukraine in either private medical colleges or allow their transfer to colleges in other countries so that they can appear for NEET-FMG.

Some local doctors’ associations have made representations to NMC seeking intervention to introduce special provisions enabling transfer of such students to medical colleges in other countries. This will ensure their eligibility to apply for entrance exam in India as foreign medical graduates (FMG).

Medical students pursuing medicine from foreign universities have to clear the screening test. Once they clear it, they are equal to any other Indian medical graduate for further practice and employment as a medical doctor in India. However, the NMC rule doesn’t allow migration of FMG from one medical college to another.

Uncertainty is looming over the future of thousands of medical students who returned from Ukraine since the beginning of the crisis there. Continuation of education has become a challenge for such students as war has impacted infrastructure, even as many of them are in their final years of medical courses.

Ukraine has been a preferred destination for medical aspirants from India as it provides quality education at low cost, attracting many candidates who failed to secure a seat in government colleges in India.