The proposal of the Central Government for an exit exam after MBBS was condemned by Medicos legal Action Group (MlAG), stating the main objection is that with an exit exam, there will be some MBBS graduates with valid degrees from MCI recognised colleges but who cannot practice medicine since they have been unable to pass the exit exam.
The Union Ministry of Health and the Medical Council of India (MCI) are seriously contemplating the introduction of a single, nationwide exit test for those who have passed the MBBS examination. The MCI’s Board of Governors has unanimously accepted the proposal, made by the Health Ministry. Reacting to the development, the medicos group in a statement said that Government has mooted a plan to hold an exit exam after MBBS so that Government and private college pass-outs maintain same standard.
Dr Sandeep Dhavan, founder Trustee MlAG said though the objective of this proposal was laudable but it was much simpler to hold a common final professional examination of MBBS pass-outs on pattern of AIPMT. The final professional exam of all clinical subjects should be common nationwide and should not held by individual universities.
Dr Neeraj Nagpal, convenor of MlAG said MBBS doctors anyway undergo many tests and examinations during and after their MBBS. Before the final professional examination there is a college held “Send Up” exam which is tougher than the university held final professional examination in most colleges.
After MBBS doctors take multiple Post-Graduate entrance examinations and having another examination sandwiched between these is not required. One common final professional graduate examination held nationwide could replace individual university held exams and will simultaneously standardise MBBS pass outs nationwide.
MlAG has stated this exit exam will create confusion and unforeseeable problems. Already medical education is in a messy cauldron with too much interference and experimentation. Any such radical steps should be well considered and after taking inputs from all stakeholders, he added.