The Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday regarding the imminent uncertainty over the future of the medical students that have returned from the war-stricken Ukraine.
In IMA’s letter to the prime minister, it proposed a one-time arrangement that is routinely carried out in a rare case of closure of an ongoing medical institute in the country then the medical students are coherently disbursed in different medical institutes.
The association mentioned that the number of medical students returning to India due to the current situation is substantial and since they are at varying semesters of completing their degree, the eligibility certificate issued by the National Medical Commission or the Medical Council of India can be of imminent importance.
The students will also need to complete the validation of certification by the competent authorities of medical schools that were originally in Ukraine to check their level and progression of their education by the standard of medical schools in India to grant them admission in a particular year. The certificate is typically required by any Indian student wishing to join foreign medical schools.
This is not the first time Indian medical students have to face the same fate due to Russia. In 2014, as many as 600 students had enrolled in Crimea but due to the Russian forces invading the peninsula had no choice except to transfer to another Ukrainian university or stay in Crimea.
However, the number of students affected is much higher at 18,000. IMA has suggested a five per cent increase in medical seats as a temporary solution for these students.
