Medical exit exam
Concerns about the quality of doctors produced in the country have led the Medical Council of India (MCI) to propose a single exit exam for those graduating with MBBS degrees from government and private medical colleges.
There is a proposal to create a separate `all-India chapter' for those who clear the exit exam, allowing them to practise across India. At present, doctors are required to be registered with the state chapter of MCI. If they intend to move to another state for practice, the registration is transferred to that state.
Soon after the proposal came to light, discomfort could be felt among sections of the medical community. According to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), practical knowledge is more important than the ory. "Introducing such exams does not make any sense. This is not found in any country across the world. Further, it does not benefit students because if one is unable to clear the exam, their five years of hard work would be in vain," said K K Aggarwal, honorary secretary-general of the association. "If the government is serious about the quality of doctors in the country, they should introduce combined exams at the entrance level, because the exit exam poses questions about the MBBS programme's credibility."
The student community is divided. Shelja Yadav, a second-year MBBS student from Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi, questioned the need for such an assessment for students of a practical subject. "There is no point in introducing such an exam as the medicine discipline is all about gaining practical knowledge. How can one additional pen-and-paper test help gauge our calibre when this is a practical subject," asked Yadav. Besides, apart from MBBS studies, students grapple with the burden of a PG entrance test as well, she added.
Some others welcomed the move as a means to assess their abilities as well as check candidates who may not be genuine. "This is necessary because not all students enrol for MBBS programmes through legitimate means," said Aamir Khan, a first-year MBBS student at Maulana Azad Med ical College (MAMC), Delhi."If this is a quality check exam, then we should accept it as this may also help us to find out what improvement is needed in our education system."
According to Asha Srivastava, professor, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, there should be a uniform syllabus for all medical colleges before the authorities introduce such an exam, which would permit graduates to practise anywhere in India. Moreover, she added, "It would be better if this exit test is the same as the postgraduate entrance test so that students don't feel burdened and a practical discipline does not require people to be tested on theory again and again."
Concerns about the quality of doctors produced in the country have led the Medical Council of India (MCI) to propose a single exit exam for those graduating with MBBS degrees from government and private medical colleges.
There is a proposal to create a separate `all-India chapter' for those who clear the exit exam, allowing them to practise across India. At present, doctors are required to be registered with the state chapter of MCI. If they intend to move to another state for practice, the registration is transferred to that state.
Soon after the proposal came to light, discomfort could be felt among sections of the medical community. According to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), practical knowledge is more important than the ory. "Introducing such exams does not make any sense. This is not found in any country across the world. Further, it does not benefit students because if one is unable to clear the exam, their five years of hard work would be in vain," said K K Aggarwal, honorary secretary-general of the association. "If the government is serious about the quality of doctors in the country, they should introduce combined exams at the entrance level, because the exit exam poses questions about the MBBS programme's credibility."
The student community is divided. Shelja Yadav, a second-year MBBS student from Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi, questioned the need for such an assessment for students of a practical subject. "There is no point in introducing such an exam as the medicine discipline is all about gaining practical knowledge. How can one additional pen-and-paper test help gauge our calibre when this is a practical subject," asked Yadav. Besides, apart from MBBS studies, students grapple with the burden of a PG entrance test as well, she added.
Some others welcomed the move as a means to assess their abilities as well as check candidates who may not be genuine. "This is necessary because not all students enrol for MBBS programmes through legitimate means," said Aamir Khan, a first-year MBBS student at Maulana Azad Med ical College (MAMC), Delhi."If this is a quality check exam, then we should accept it as this may also help us to find out what improvement is needed in our education system."
According to Asha Srivastava, professor, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, there should be a uniform syllabus for all medical colleges before the authorities introduce such an exam, which would permit graduates to practise anywhere in India. Moreover, she added, "It would be better if this exit test is the same as the postgraduate entrance test so that students don't feel burdened and a practical discipline does not require people to be tested on theory again and again."
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