Decision to recognize foreign medical degrees will not include degrees from USSR and China!

Decision to recognize foreign medical degrees will not include degrees from USSR and China!
Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan

Government of India’s recent decision to recognize foreign medical degrees will pave the way for Indian medical graduates to explore the possibilities of taking Post graduation abroad. Moreover it will reduce the scarcity of specialist doctors in the country. With this decision, postgraduate medical degrees from Australia, UK, USA, New Zealand and Canada will be recognized in the country. India had already recognized medical degrees of Myanmar, Italy, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Japan and Hong Kong. Suitable amendment has been made in the Indian medical Council Act 1956 in this regard.

Government of India has decided to give recognition to the postgraduate medical degrees awarded from English speaking countries only. Recently more number of Indian Medical postgraduates from abroad is interested to practice in India. This growing trend will reduce the scarcity of postgraduate doctors up to a certain extent in the country.

Moreover large numbers of students are undergoing medical studies in China and USSR. Medical council of India had categorically published warnings against this trend. A student after completing MBBS from China and USSR are required to write the tests prescribed by medical council of India. Decision to conduct this test is totally coming under the purview of Medical council of India. Even though MCI has conducted tests and externship programme for those medical Postgraduates from China and USSR previously (up to 2000) equivalent to MBBS in India, they have taken a decision not to recognize this degree in future. But more number of parents without taking in to account the MCI’s decision are sending their children to take MBBS from China/USSR. Some of the private agencies are exploiting this situation for immediate financial gain. Ultimately it will lead to situation where a student after completing MBBS from China/USSR cannot be allowed to practice in India.