Parents of students studying medicine in the Philippines ask the NMC to exempt the students from practice eligibility criteria
Updated on September 12, 2023
In a recent development, parents of medical students studying in the Philippines have raised concerns and are demanding exemption from the eligibility criteria laid down by the National Medical Commission (NMC) for foreign students in November 2021. The NMC introduced these criteria, which impact their ability to practice medicine in India.
The NMC's new rules state that students who had already enrolled in the MD (Doctor of Medicine) course in the Philippines, equivalent to an MBBS degree in India, are exempted from these criteria. However, those students who were enrolled in the BS (Bachelor of Science) degree program before the NMC's gazette notification have not received the same exemption.
Parents argue that the BS degree is a prerequisite for the MD program in the Philippines, and they were initially assured by the NMC that students enrolled in the BS degree would also be exempted.
The primary demand from parents is that students who enrolled in BS degrees in the Philippines in 2020 or 2021, before the NMC's gazette notification, should be exempted from the eligibility criteria. According to parents, there are approximately 800 such students in Pune and over 25,000 across the country.
Failure to receive this exemption would mean that these students would have to undergo two additional years of internships and take extra examinations, incurring additional costs and potentially delaying their medical careers.
This issue has garnered significant attention and raised concerns among parents and students who are seeking clarification and resolution from the NMC regarding their eligibility for medical practice in India. The NMC is expected to address this matter in the near future.
