Is the future of Ukraine-returned MBBS students in danger?

Operation Mission Ganga was successful, and many students returned to their homes safely. As a result of that operation, 18,000 MBBS students are safely returning to their country. But now their professional safety is in danger. Five months have passed since returning, yet nearly 15,000 students are waiting to be taken to Indian medical colleges.

Only those who are in Semester 8th and 9th semester and have got a degree certificate from a respected college can apply for a provisional certificate after passing the FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Exam). “The National Medical Council is the governing body for medical students.”

They continue to say, “First and second-year students can appear for the NEET exam to gain admission to medical college,” but students are arguing that NEET is the toughest exam to enter a government college and the fees of private colleges are too high, so they decided to study abroad.

The students who are in semesters 3rd and 4th can’t even transfer to other European countries, and to be in an Indian college again, they must pay 15-20 lakh rupees for five and a half year-long courses. The NMC has issued a memorandum that challenges the Madras supreme court. It states that 50% of the seats reserved in private colleges must be taken at equal fees in government colleges.

Some relief news is given by NMC to around 3,000 final year students, to sit for the screening test FMGE. It also provides help as only those who are eligible for this exam are granted certification on or before June 30. However, this happiness turns into sorrow for students as they will get their degree in October 2022, four months after NMC approval.

As per NMC, there are 612 colleges, of which 322 are governed by the government. Adding 24 students per college and approximately 5–6 students per year, excluding final year students who received permission from MNC, may help to build the future of these MBBS students.