Joining medicos across the country in voicing concerns about proposed amendments to the India Medical Council Act, doctors in Telangana affiliated to Indian Medical Association decried the changes on Wednesday.
In the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016 proposes introduction of a qualifying examination, NEXT or National Exit Test, for MBBS students before they can practice. Students and doctors across the country protested on Wednesday stating that an additional examination is an unwarranted burden on students who undergo several examinations during and at the end of their study.
“Medical Council of India is empowered enough to check the standards of the final exams that institutions across the country administer. The purpose of another examination is unclear,” said T. Narasinga Reddy, president of IMA’s Telangana State chapter.
Students at medical colleges in the city and elsewhere in the State boycotted classes on Wednesday as part of the protestTelangana’s medical education administration maintains that the State is not in favour of the examination but may have to toe the centre’s line as like many other States are.
“At a conference where our opinions were sought, we questioned the need for another examination and expressed our thoughts that it was unnecessary,” said a health official. The draft is expected to be tabled during ongoing budget session.
