PG Medicos can Appear in Final Exams without Completing Online Course in Research Methods: NMC

New Delhi: Providing relief to the postgraduate medical students appearing for the final year examination 2023, the National Medical Commission has allowed them to appear in the examination without completing the online course in Research Methods. 

However, the Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of NMC has also clarified that this relief is being offered to the PG medicos on one condition that the result will be declared only after passing of Basic Course in Biomedical Research (BCBR) online course.

This comes after students belonging to Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, Telangana and other medical colleges across the country prayed for relief from the Apex medical body.

Undergoing an online course in Research Methods is mandatory for the students to appear in the final examination of the respective PG course. Referring to this, NMC PG Board mentioned in the recent notice, "Board of Governors Post Graduate in Super Session of Medical Council of India Vide Notification No. MCI-18(1)/2019-Me/171700 dt 11.12.2019, had stipulated that all PG Students admitted from the AY 2019-20 onwards shall complete an online course in Research Methods, which is essential for appearing for the final examination of the respective PG Course."

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The Board also pointed out the exemption offered to the students last year and mentioned, "Further, Vide public No. NMC-23(1)(137)/2022/Med/PG Notice dt. 07.06.2022, an exemption permitting all PG Students admitted in the AY 2019-20 who could not complete the online Course in Research Methods to appear in the Final Examinations in 2022. However, the such students have to complete the online Course in Research Methods within Six months for which dean will facilitate in registration of the Course and the result of such students will only be declared after completion of the online course."

This year also the NMC PG Board has received representations from students for such an exception and prayed to be allowed to appear in the examination. Referring to this issue, the President of PGMEB Dr. Vijay Oza mentioned in the recent notice, "Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) has received the representation from the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Science, Telangana regarding PG students of 2020-21 batch requesting to grant exemption in similar way and to permit them to appear in the examination scheduled to be held in the month of June 2023 as they have not completed the Online Course in Research Methods."

"The Students have represented that they shall complete the training course within 6 months. Similar representations have been received from students of 2020-21 batch from other colleges also," it further added.

Considering the requests of the students, NMC has offered relief to them by allowing them to appear in the final examination without completing the online course. 

However, clarifying that the results will only be declared after completion of the said course, NMC mentioned, "Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) has decided that all Students can be allowed to appear in the Post Graduate Examination 2023 with the condition that the result will be declared only after passing of Basic Course in Biomedical Research (BCBR) online course because 2020-21 batch was involved in COVID management for one & half year of their course and 2021 batch was admitted in Feb-March 2022."

Medical Dialogues had last year reported that in a breather to all final year PG medicos, NMC had allowed an exemption on the completion of 'Online Course in Research Methods' for appearing in the final PG examinations 2022.

Granting exemption, the NMC had permitted all PG medicos who could not complete the Online Course in Research Methods to appear in the final examinations in 2022. However, the NMC has imposed a rider on this allowance and has mandated that all such medicos will have to complete the Online Course in Research Methods within six months. It had been decided by the Apex medical body that the result of such students would Completing only be declared after completion of the online course.

To view the NMC notice, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pgmeb-210965.pdf

Also Read: NMC exempts PG medicos on completion of Online Course in Research Methods, but imposes rider