The Union Health Ministry which disclosed the draft of the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill 2016 said the medical students will first have to clear the National Exit Test (NEXT) before being adding a ‘Dr’ against their name.
Dr P Shingare, who heads the state’s department of medical education and research, said NEXT is a good move. “How can we equate a student from X university with one from Y University?
According to a government official, “NEXT will enhance the quality of medical education in the country. It will substitute three tests, including NEET for postgraduate admission, recruitment for central health services and foreign graduate medical examination.”
“In the last 20 years, 100 medical officers took up post-graduate studies every year. But none of these 2,000 doctors ever returned to the government system, “ said Dr Shingare.
Dr Gautam Sen, a former MCI member, said, “This is nothing but reduction in meritocracy. We already have reservation at under graduate levels and postgraduate levels. What is the need to introduce another quota?”