Students of Medical Colleges across Jharkhand on Thursday staged a protest to oppose the move of extending the course duration for MBBS and demanded immediate roll back of the proposal put forth by Medical Council of India (MCI) to the Union Health Ministry. The MCI’s proposal has evoked nation wide protest leading to suspension of classes and partial disruption in medical services at some places.
As per the proposal, the MCI has suggested the Union Health Ministry to extend the course duration for MBBS by two years. Also, the MCI has proposed changes in admission criteria for post graduate courses making rural posting at primary health centre mandatory for the writing exams for higher studies.
The proposal which is yet to get the Ministry’s approval would mean that the coveted degree could be obtained after completing a 7.5 year syllabus, comprising classroom session followed by internship, instead of existing term of 5.5 years. The two years extension to course duration is said to be related to internship - one year in hospital and serving in rural areas for one year - before a student becomes eligible for degree of MBBS. Interestingly, as per the changes suggested mandatory internship in rural areas for a student to become eligible for writing post graduate entrance test for MD or MS.
“We are not opposed to serving in rural areas or in hospital but that should be made part of the five year course instead of increasing the duration of the course,” said Umesh Kumar, a final year student at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).
The MCI’s move supposedly dealt a serious blow to final year students who deem that the proposal will elongate their career as a student if one wants to go for superspecialty courses in myriad discipline of medical course. Notably, only MBBS degree holder can sit for post graduation in medical courses.
“This way we will remain a student till we reach middle age! When we will start our career as a professionalIJ” added Vikash, a MBBS student at RIMS. Significantly, RIMS student’s union confided that a union of medical student at Delhi will approach Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to communicate their grievances and apprise the Minister of students’ concern if the said proposal gets the ministry’s nod.