Online classes hurting chances of foreign medical students’ internship
The Hindu
Over 110 students who studied in Russian, Georgian varsities await registration
Some medical students who completed course work in Russia are unable to register for the mandatory internship in India. They have been knocking on the doors of officialdom for help, thus far unsuccessfully.
During the pandemic some students returned to India and continued the programme online as borders were closed and flights were not operated.
In Russia, medical students undergo a 6-year programme, comprising 12 semesters. Several students underwent the 11th semester online owing to the pandemic. They later returned to complete the course as the government conducts the final exam in 12 th semester and they are evaluated by external examiners.
Those who completed coursework have since returned and also qualified in the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination. Such candidates may apply for internship in India. However, the Tamil Nadu Medical Council has refused to approve some students’ applications. Some among them with high scores have registered in New Delhi and have started interning in hospitals in that State.
A student from Chennai who qualified in the FMG in Dec 2021 is unable to register with TNMC yet. Several students from her batch had completed the provisional verification but her application was on hold as she had undergone online classes between Sept.1, 2020 and March 27, 2021.
She said she had reworked her online classes after returning to Russia and submitted a letter from her University to the Council as well. With the Directorate of Medical Education awarding CRRI seats according to seniority, she is worried about not being able to do internship.
A city-based educational consultant for Russian medical colleges said universities requested students to remain in the country to take the physical mode exam. Some students had approached his agency, he said, adding: “We are now trying to arrange for the additional data asked by the TNMC.”
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