Latest news with #MBBS
Hans India
10 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
MBBS Abroad: A practical guide for Indian students after NEET
As more than 23 lakh students vie for less than 1 lakh MBBS seats in India, a growing number of medical aspirants who appear for NEET are turning to international options to fulfill their dream of becoming doctors. Studying medicine abroad can open doors to global healthcare careers, but choosing the right college requires careful planning. Here's a practical guide to what Indian students should look for when evaluating MBBS programs abroad. Accreditation and Global Recognition The cornerstone of any reputable medical institution is its accreditation. This ensures that the curriculum meets globally recognized standards and that the degree will be accepted internationally. When evaluating medical schools, it's important to check for credentials such as approval by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) in the United States and a listing in the World Directory of Medical Schools, which is maintained through a partnership between the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER). ECFMG certification is particularly crucial for Indian students aspiring to pursue residency and practice in the United States. Similarly, recognition by the WHO (through its listing in the World Directory) often signifies that the degree is accepted in various countries worldwide. Without these recognitions, students may face significant hurdles in licensing and career progression. Therefore, verifying accreditations must be the first step in evaluating any foreign medical school. Clinical training Classroom learning must be complemented by strong clinical exposure. Look for institutions affiliated with reputed hospitals, particularly in the US or UK, as these settings provide access to advanced medical technology and a wide variety of clinical cases. Clinical rotations in these countries not only enhance skill development but also improve your chances of securing a residency. Ask about the structure and supervision of clinical rotations, duration, patient volume, and specialties covered. Quality clinical training abroad can make a significant difference in your transition from student to physician. Program Duration and Structure Medical program duration and structure differ globally. Prospective students must understand program length, preclinical/clinical phase breakdown, and teaching methods. Some countries offer shorter, intensive programs, while others have longer durations with varying specializations. Medical education in the US follows a graduate-entry model, requiring applicants to hold an undergraduate degree and take the MCAT exam, whereas several European countries offer six-year undergraduate medical programs. Caribbean institutions, conversely, often adopt a USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) focused structure involving two years of basic sciences before clinical rotations. Admission Complexity, Exams, and Acceptance Rates Admission criteria differ greatly across countries. US medical schools are highly competitive, requiring MCAT scores, a strong undergraduate GPA, and extracurricular achievements. In contrast, institutions in Eastern Europe, Russia, or the Philippines often have simpler admissions processes but may offer limited exposure to international licensure pathways. Caribbean medical schools frequently allow direct entry after high school or offer a pre-med track, supported by academic counseling. When choosing a program, students must assess their own academic background and readiness for competitive exams to select the most suitable path. Cost and Financial Aid Studying abroad is a significant financial commitment. Consider the total cost, not just tuition, but also living expenses, travel, accommodation, exam fees, and eventual residency application costs. Numerous universities provide scholarships that are awarded based on either academic performance or financial need, making it essential for students to explore these options and review the criteria for eligibility. Students should also explore education loan options from Indian banks and NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Company). Some foreign medical schools' partner with Indian lenders to simplify the loan process. Additionally, look for institutions offering flexible payment plans, which can ease the financial burden over time. A well-informed financial plan is critical to ensuring sustainability throughout your medical education. Career Pathways and Licensing Support Ultimately, the goal of pursuing medical education abroad is to become a licensed, practicing doctor. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate whether the medical school offers USMLE preparation support, has dedicated advisors and mentorship programs to assist with residency placements in the US or UK, and boasts a strong residency match rate. Additionally, it's important to look at where the alumni are currently practicing, whether in the US, UK, Canada, or India, as this reflects the institution's track record. Medical schools in the Caribbean that follow the USMLE pathway are particularly noteworthy in this context. Many of these institutions offer integrated Step 1 preparation, clinical training opportunities in US hospitals, and assistance with visas, making them structured and viable alternatives for Indian students aiming to build a medical career in North America. (The author is Country Head - India & South East Asia, Manipal's American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine)
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Telangana Medical Council inspects unlicensed clinics, busts quacks
Hyderabad: The Telangana Medical Council (TGMC) conducted surprise inspections on Monday at multiple unlicensed clinics operating along Kuntlur Road in Hayathnagar. As many as five individuals were found running unauthorised medical centres without valid qualifications or licenses. This included a clinic named Sunrays Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, which was being run by an Ayurveda graduate, Dr Umakant, who was found illegally administering modern allopathic treatments. Another first aid centre named Sri Vijaya Brahmendra First Aid Center was caught providing modern medical services without possessing a recognised medical degree. While one individual, Vinod, who only completed intermediate, was found practising allopathic treatment without any formal medical qualification at Hanuman First Aid Center, another person named Dr KS Prasad, a homeopathy graduate, was falsely claiming to be an MBBS doctor while providing modern medical care at Sri Sai Poly Clinic. The fifth unauthorised clinic, Balaji First Aid Center, was being run by a person named Rambabu. TGMC officials said they will lodge complaints against the five accused practitioners in the coming days, based on which a case will be registered against the fake doctors under relevant NMC and BNS sections.
Business Standard
a day ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Celebrating Excellence: 408 International Students Graduate from Mari State University After Completing MBBS in Russia
SMPL Yoshkar-Ola [Russia], July 21: In a grand celebration of academic achievement and international unity, Mari State University, one of the leading destinations for MBBS in Russia, hosted its 2025 convocation ceremony at the prestigious Erik Sapaev Mari State Opera and Ballet Theatre in Yoshkar-Ola. The event marked a proud milestone as 408 foreign students, primarily from India and the Arab world, were awarded their higher education diplomas in medicine. The highlight of this year's ceremony was the presence of over 50 proud parents and family members from India, who traveled thousands of kilometers to witness their children's crowning moment. Their presence added emotional depth and cultural warmth to the ceremony, symbolizing the growing trust Indian families place in MBBS programs in Russia, especially at Mari State University. For many visiting families, this was their first time in Russia. They were deeply moved by the hospitality, meticulous event organization, and the vibrant cultural experience that unfolded during their visit. From a guided tour of Yoshkar-Ola and the university campus to a personal reception with the university's esteemed rector, Prof. Mikhail Shvetsov, the guests experienced first-hand the welcoming spirit and high standards that define MBBS education at Mari State University. The graduation ceremony was a spectacular affair, blending tradition with festivity. Students of Mari State University performed cultural showcases, while proud graduates received their diplomas amidst applause, joy, and heartfelt tears. The university administration, along with the Medical Institute, praised the graduates for their perseverance, dedication, and professionalism--qualities that will now serve them in their careers as doctors across the world. Officials from Rus Education, a long-standing partner of Mari State University and a trusted name for guiding Indian students to pursue MBBS in Russia, expressed their pride in witnessing yet another successful batch of Indian doctors graduate. The collaboration between Rus Education and Mari State University continues to offer Indian students a world-class medical education with global recognition. Graduates shared that their years in Russia were not only filled with academic accomplishments but also enriched with friendships, cultural exchange, and invaluable life experiences. As they return home with their Russian medical degrees, these young doctors carry forward a legacy of knowledge, compassion, and international camaraderie.
The Print
a day ago
- Health
- The Print
Once brought in as ‘historic reform', National Medical Commission is showing same symptoms as predecessor
NMC comprises 33 members, a chairperson, 10 ex-officio members, and 22 part-time members. In addition, there are four autonomous boards to support its functioning—for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) education, medical assessment and rating, and ethics and registration. What was considered the most appealing feature of the new medical education regulator was that its members would be 'selected' on the basis of 'merit'. New Delhi: In 2020, the constitution of the National Medical Commission (NMC) was hailed as a ' historic reform ' in the field of medical education and the practice of medicine. It replaced its predecessor Medical Commission of India (MCI), a network of elected representatives set up in 1933 and governed by Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, which had come to be viewed as a den of corruption, inefficiency and arbitrariness. 'Men and women with impeccable integrity, professionalism, experience and stature have been now placed at the helm to steer the medical education reforms further,' the Centre had said, announcing NMC's inception on 25 September, 2020. However, nearly five years later, a massive 'scandal'—involving senior NMC officials, some from the Union health ministry and a former University Grants Commission head—has been unearthed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and many suspect it is just the 'tip of the iceberg'. The allegations being probed include unauthorised sharing of classified regulatory information, manipulation of statutory inspection processes, and widespread bribery to secure favourable treatment for private medical colleges—reminiscent of the MCI era. The episode has once again triggered passionate debates on the commission's functioning, with doctors and medical experts telling ThePrint that NMC has not been able to deliver on its promises. Many point out that NMC has been unable to successfully perform any of its stipulated 'key functions'—streamlining regulations, rating of institutions, raising focus on research, introducing a national licentiate examination after MBBS course, creating an all-India register of doctors, and preparing guidelines for fee regulation by private medical colleges. Neither has it been able to develop standards for Community Health Officers with limited practicing licence, and no MBBS degrees, providing primary healthcare services in rural areas, those in the fraternity rue. Additionally, many doctors anonymously express concerns about the growing influence of the RSS-backed National Medicos Organisation (NMO) on the functioning of the NMC, and the alleged religious agenda. Also Read: Health diagnostics is a game of 'molecules & money'. Amazon has just entered the race 'Bureaucratic & political interference' According to the previous national president of Indian Medical Association Dr R.V. Asokan, NMC was 'never meant to perform'. 'It was meant to be its master's voice, which it is. The expectation was that it should perform as an arm of the government, favouring medical colleges at the cost of quality in teaching and training, and promoting mixopathy and crosspathy (integration of modern medicine with alternative medicine), and it it faithfully doing it,' Dr Asokan told ThePrint. IMA—the largest network of doctors in the country—had fought tooth and nail against the constitution of the NMC, arguing that MCI was a democratic body duly elected by the entire medical fraternity of the country, and that it deserved a clean-up, not extinction. Dr Ravi Wankhedkar, another former IMA president, said that the only 'achievement' that the NMC can showcase is the massive expansion of UG and PG seats, and the number of medical colleges coming up at the cost of alarming dilution of infrastructure and faculty norms, and declining teaching standards. Government statistics show that India had 731 medical colleges offering 1,12,112 MBBS seats, and 72,627 PG or PG-equivalent seats in medicine in the 2024-25 academic session. According to health ministry data, this was a substantial hike from 387 colleges, 51,348 MBBS seats and 31,185 PG seats before 2014. 'But so poor is the quality of teaching and learning in medical colleges these days that we will be extremely wary about getting treated by the doctors passing out of the current system. I am really concerned about what happens to patient safety and healthcare services in this country once the new generation of doctors takes over,' Dr Wankhedkar told ThePrint. Yet, he added, the benefit that the government is getting out of this is that they can boast about opening medical colleges and increasing the number of seats in medicine to 'score political points'. Asked about the many such observations about the NMC, the body's outgoing chairman Dr B.N. Gangadhar told ThePrint that while he respected his colleagues' opinion, given that the expectations from the commission were huge, it had done a 'reasonably fair job thus far'. 'Several changes have been brought out, including massive expansion of medical colleges, number of UG and PG seats. Implementation of these changes will take time. It's all a work in progress,' he said. Incoming NMC chairperson Dr Abhijat Sheth, appointed last week, is set to take charge soon. Dr Gangadhar also described the announcement of new teaching recruitment norms this month, allowing specialists in non-teaching hospitals to be able to work as teachers, as a move aimed at correcting the biggest problem plaguing the sector—faculty shortage. But many have argued that this will further dilute teaching training standards. A senior NMC functionary, whose term ended two years ago, confirmed the assessment that others in the medical fraternity have made. 'We tried to do many things, but the bureaucracy harassed us like anything. The intent of setting up NMC was right, but the way things are, I see little hope. There is too much political and bureaucratic interference,' said the ex-NMC member, requesting anonymity. ThePrint also reached Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava via email for a comment on these allegations. This report will be updated if and when a response is received. 'Reforms' that turned out to be non-starters The NMC Act of 2019 had envisaged the National Exit Test or NExT as a singular qualifying examination to replace three existing exams in the field of medicine—the final MBBS exams, the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for PG seats (NEET-PG), and the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) for foreign graduates to practice medicine in India. The Act had stated that qualifying in NExT would be a must—within three years of the Act getting notified—for every MBBS graduate to receive a licence to practice medicine in the country. Later, in 2023, the NMC had announced that from 2024 onwards, the NExT exam would be conducted twice a year, only to face stiff resistance from medical students across India forcing the regulator and the government to put the idea on hold. In a representation to the government in 2023, the IMA had said that the group, along with various networks of medical students, rejected NExT in toto for its 'anti-student content'. In January last year, the NMC sought public feedback on the feasibility of the test, indicating that it was unsure about the basic premise of the test. There has been no word on the fate of this proposed examination since. In 2022, the commission had ruled that private medical colleges in India will have to keep the fee for half the seats at par with that charged by government colleges in the respective states they are located in. This had come amid concerns that fee for MBBS seats at a private medical college in India could range between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 30 lakh a year, meaning that students would have to shell out anywhere from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore for the duration of the course. This move was, however, challenged in different high courts and the Supreme Court, and was stayed and never implemented. Another key task of creating a national medical registry (NMR), meant to create a database of credentials and details of the nearly 13 lakh doctors practicing in the country, has also been struggling to take off. Over the last five years, the database has been able to register just about a few hundred doctors, with most doctors in even metro cities yet to be registered on the portal, NMC sources said. 'I feel that the MCI-Board of Governors (BoG) that had been put in place after dissolution of the MCI was at least able to carry out certain measures. NMC has fared poorly on many counts,' said Dr Satendra Singh, professor of physiology with the University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi. MCI-BoG—headed by Dr V.K. Paul, member-health, NITI Aayog—which worked on an interim basis for two years between 2018 and 2020, had brought in plans like district residency programme (DRP) scheme, and allowing private hospitals to start PG-equivalent courses that were later implemented by the NMC. Worse still, Dr Singh said, the commission has so far not even been able to ensure implementation of the competency-based medical education (CBME) curriculum across the country, mandatory under the World Federation for Medical Education's (WFME) Global Standards for Quality Improvement: Basic Medical Education, 2020. Established by an initiative of the World Health Organisation and the World Medical Association, the WFME had awarded recognition status to the NMC for 10 years in 2023. Also Read: Bringing dramatic drop in TB deaths, how TN set an example for rest of India with one-of-a-kind model Series of U-turns In September last year, NMC was forced to amend its contentious CBME guidelines after vehement protests by activists who called the guidelines 'outdated' and 'archaic'. The 2024 guidelines for the undergraduate forensic medicine curriculum were set to replace the 2019 guidelines in the upcoming academic session, and apply to one lakh medical students across universities in the country. Those who opposed the guidelines, however, underlined that the guidelines deemed 'lesbianism and sodomy' as unnatural sexual offences, clubbing them with sadism, necrophilia and voyeurism. This was not the first time that the NMC had gone back on a decision, which was being publicised as a 'reform'. A similar controversy had erupted in 2023 when the body had mandated doctors to prescribe generic drugs or face penalties, forcing it to put the professional conduct regulations on hold. The same year, after strong protests from southern states, the NMC had deferred its decision to set up more MBBS colleges, and add more UG seats based on the population of different states. 'The number of corrigendums and addendums that the NMC has published over the last few years is higher than what the MCI published in the over seven decades that it existed,' Dr Singh said. 'It shows how this body is functioning—without the required seriousness and vision that are absolute must.' The regulator, he stressed, has turned out to be 'old wine in a new bottle with little action that matters, and a master of U-turns that put a question mark on its credibility'. He also pointed out how the body has been working on an ad-hoc basis for the last two years. Dr Gangadhar, former director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, who had been the chairman of the commission's Medical Assessment and Rating Board since 2020, was appointed as officiating NMC chairman in 2023, when the term of its first chief Dr S.C. Sharma ended. In July last year, he was appointed as NMC chairman, but the positions of whole-time members and chairpersons of three out of four boards at the commission have been lying vacant for nearly two years, though several whole-time and part members of NMC were selected through a draw of lots by Health Minister J.P. Nadda last week. Besides the new chairperson, name of the new president of the medical assessment and rating board was also announced on 11 July. 'If the medical education regulator has to be run with a draw of lots, why not even choose our parliamentarians like that?' remarked Dr Asokan. He added that while there were issues with the way MCI had been functioning, mainly as too much power was vested with one person, it at least ensured that 'ruthless standards' were maintained in colleges leading to Indian doctors making their name world over. The former NMC member quoted earlier said that 'quality people' were reluctant to work with the commission, given the tight bureaucratic control. Influenced by NMO's ideology? In 2022, NMC had made it compulsory for every medical college to have a 'Department of Integrative Medicine Research' to promote integration of modern medicine with homoeopathy and Indian systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda. In December 2023, a section of doctors had protested strongly against the change in the logo by the commission, calling it a move aimed at 'altering' the 'secular' face of the government agency. The new logo had a colorful picture of Dhanvantari, recognised as the physician of the gods in Hinduism, and called the 'God of Ayurveda' in some religious texts. In April this year, the regulator had ruled that offering medical duty during the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand would be counted as part of the District Residency Programme—a mandatory requirement for PG students to serve for three months in district hospitals or district health systems. 'These decisions have largely been due to NMO's line of thinking, which many in the medical fraternity now believe has too much influence on the commission's policy decisions,' said a doctor and faculty member at a medical college in Delhi, requesting anonymity. However, Dr Gangadhar dismissed these concerns. He said that the adoption of the logo followed a collective decision by NMC members after the idea was floated by a local IMA president from Maharashtra. 'The idea to include Char Dham Yatra in DRP for colleges across the country came after wide consultation within the commission, but a particular group associated with an organisation from some colleges decided to follow it,' he clarified. On the claims that the commission is actively promoting crosspathy—a term he said he does not agree with—the outgoing chairman maintained that the idea exists in the NMC Act itself. 'The (NMC) Act itself says that multiple boards (of different streams of medicine) should be meeting and discussing with an open mind as to what is needed and can be done. We are just following these provisions. Otherwise, the Act itself should be scrapped,' he remarked. (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Govt tightens drug billing norm for CGHS claims. What new rule is & why pvt hospitals are pushing back
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
FCIMS recognition cancelled by NMC
Representative image HYDERABAD: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has revoked the recognition of Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences (FCIMS) in Warangal, a private medical college with 150 seats, following bribery allegations against one of its trustees in a nationwide scam involving the recognition of private medical institutions. This action follows a case filed by the CBI against Father Joseph Komareddy, who allegedly attempted to pay 66 lakh to NMC officials during an annual inspection concerning infrastructure and faculty requirements for regulatory approval. The move is part of a broader CBI investigation into corruption within the NMC. The probe has uncovered a network of intermediaries accused of securing approvals for private medical colleges through bribery. A total of 36 individuals have been named in the FIR, including two from Telangana, one based in Hyderabad, Ankam Rambabu, and another trustee of FCIMS. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad According to health department officials, although FCIMS's recognition has been withdrawn, students currently enrolled in the first and second years of MBBS programme will be permitted to continue their studies. Of the 30 medical colleges in Telangana, two are deemed universities, one has had its recognition revoked, and the admissions process for the remaining 27 private colleges will be overseen by Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS).
