MCI screening compulsory for all students from abroad
A three judge bench of the Supreme Court has decided that all medical students who study abroad and wish to practice in India, must pass a screening test as stipulated by MCI act, to assess that their knowledge of medicine is up to Indian standards.
A THREE-judge bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, P Sathasivam and J M Panchal have ruled that screening by the Medical Council Of India is mandatory for medical degree holders from foreign countries to practice in India.
As the number of institutes offering medical studies is less in India, it is difficult to secure a medical seat in a government Medical College, while the private ones charge exorbitant fees. Hence, a number of Indian students who can not make it to the Medical Colleges in India go to countries like China or Nepal for pursuing medical studies.
Since, there was dissatisfaction with some of the degrees obtained , the MCI act was amended in 2001 and 2002 to incorporate the "screening" provision. The screening test is conducted to assess the compliance of foreign medical degree holder's knowledge of medicine and skills with that of the standards approved for medical practitioners in India.
But, the legitimacy of the necessities of a screening test, were challenged in many writ petitions by Indian students who obtained their undergraduate medical degrees from Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Nepal. They had argued that they should not be subjected to the screening test and should instead be directly granted registration for practising in India.
The Delhi High Court had earlier rejected their plea, after which they appealed in the supreme court. Rejecting the students' arguments, the apex court said the effect of the stipulation contained in sub-Section (4A) of Section 13 of the MCI Act clearly mandated that after March 15, 2002, such students have to undergo the screening test.
"The scope of Section 13(4A) is quite clear and covers all foreign medical institutions falling within the ambit of Sections 12 and 13 of the Act.
"On a close and careful reading, provisions of the Amending Act of 2001 with the Eligibility Requirement Regulations and Screening Test Regulation, it becomes clear that the MCI is obliged to stipulate the screening test in the case of all those candidates who obtained medical qualification from medical institutions outside India,"the Bench said.
The supreme court made the observations in the judgement, interpreting Sections 12 and 13 of the Medical Council of India (MCI) Act, which stipulates students pursuing medical courses under "reciprocal" programmes with foreign medical colleges/ universities to compulsorily undergo "screening test" in India.
The current ruling by the apex court is definitely going to affect the career of thousands of students continuing medical courses abroad and wanting to practice in India.
Login
 Login through Social ID
|
Not finding what you are looking for? Search here.
