Foreign medical college entry: Medical Council of India told to revise eligibility norms

Justice N Kirubakaran on noting that only 15 to 25 per cent of those candidates with foreign medical degrees managed to clear Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) conducted by National Board of Examination (NBE) as per the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, said, “The above details would only make one to understand that the minimum marks of 50 per cent prescribed by MCI in the qualifying exam has to be revised.”

Pointing out that in 2016, out of the 12, 283 candidates who took FMGE only 1,160 students qualified, which worked out to a pass percentage of just 9.44 per cent, Justice Kirubakaran said, “Even understanding the reality as revealed in MCI data that many of the students would not be able to complete the course in time and be successful in the examination, there is no point in giving eligibility certificate for students with lesser marks. In the result, neither they could become doctors, nor could they complete the course and they are compelled to make attempts after attempts spoiling their life and future.”

“Further, these students, who are unable to complete the under Graduate course in Medicine in time and unable to clear the eligibility test in time, cannot render quality medical service. Moreover, the money invested by a student to become a graduate in medicine must be earned by him. With heavy competition, it may not be possible for him to get back the money spent for medical course. Hence, there is likelihood of malpractices by those candidates to get back the money spent,” Justice Kirubakaran added.

The order was in sequel to a person who had obtained eligibility certificate from MCI in 2003 to undergo undergraduate medical course in West Indies. He completed the said degree in 2011. Pursuant to this, he applied for screening test held by NBE in December 2016. Subsequently, the refusal of his plea to Tamil Nadu Medical Council to enable him to undergo Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) in any approved medical college in Tamil Nadu, had resulted in him moving the court.

However, the judge also recorded MCI’s submission that mandatory NEET qualification for getting eligibility certificate to get admission in Foreign Medical Institutions was relaxed as a one-time measure for 2018-2019 pursuant to the orders passed by the Delhi High Court.