Telangana junior doctors oppose 'National Exit Test'
Exit exams will be a disaster as the training period of MBBS students during the internship in hospitals will be spent in preparation.
Hyderabad: The Telangana Junior Doctors Association has warned of a nationwide demonstration against the National Exit Test, which requires them to sit for an examination after they complete the five year MBBS course, and will allow foreign graduates to practice in India.
The test also allows 50 per cent service reservation in post-graduation seats for candidates in government services, proposed by the Union Government in the draft Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill introduced by the Union Health Ministry earlier this week.
Junior doctors say the proposal is an insult to the medical education system and the existing practice.
Dr G Srinivas, president of the TJDA says, “Fifty per cent reservation won't solve the problem of scarcity of doctors in rural areas. The in-service doctors who were serving in the undivided Andhra Pradesh are leaving government service after finishing five years of their bond period. All of them during that time also wanted to practice in medical colleges but not in the interiors of India. After becoming a specialist, most of them give up the job hence it does not serve the purpose.”
Talking about the exit exam, Dr Mohammed Salim, another junior doctor, explained, “Exit exams will be a disaster as the training period of MBBS students during the internship period in hospitals will be spent in preparing for the exit exams.”
Dr Salim added, “Also, with Indian medical graduates and foreign graduates being treated at par, there will be competition to pass these exams rather than get first-hand knowledge of treating patients.”
The junior doctors have put across their point of view to the Medical Council of India and also the Indian Medical Council and warned of an agitation if these proposals are accepted.