BAMS Interns Urge AYUSH Minister to Defer NExT exam for 2019 Batch

Nagpur: The Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) students under the National Integrated Medical Association Student Forum (NIMASF), Nagpur Branch recently wrote to the AYUSH Minister urging him to defer the National Exit Test (NExT) for the 2019 batch of BAMS Interns.

In the letter directed to the AYUSH Minister, the students cited several reasons for postponing the exam. The students highlighted the implications of NEXT for BAMS interns across the nation. It also pointed out that the National Medical Commission (NMC) has already deferred the NExT exam for MBBS students until further orders from the Union Health Ministry.

"As you may be aware, the introduction of the National Exit Test (NEXT) has been a topic of considerable discussion within the medical fraternity; hence, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has already deferred further advice from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare," the association mentioned in the letter.

Explaining the reasons why NExT for BAMS students should be deferred, the association pointed out that the BAMS curriculum was recently changed for the 2021 batch, while the NEXT examination was introduced for the 2019 batch. 

It opined that there should be one exam combining AIAPGET and NEXT examination, adding that "Addition of examination will not only burden students but also examination system."

Further, the association pointed out that implementing NExT in the current scenario until the NCISM ensures uniform standards of education across National, Government, and Private Ayurveda colleges in India as "without this the students will not be able to crack the exam".

"Every year there was loss of PG seats due to less availability of teacher student ratio in Ayurveda collages indicate varied standards across states," the letter added.

Recently, issuing a Press Note regarding the issue, the Divisional Secretary of NIMA-SF Maharashtra, Dr. Shubham Bobade had pointed out, "According to the N.C.I.S.M. Act 2020, section 15.1, NExT is stated to be the common final year exam. Why are there two exams for the final year? Students eligible for NExT have already taken their final year exams and, according to previous rules, can complete their internships and do the practice. Therefore, implementing this exam from this year is impractical. Any changes in medical exams should be done after prior notification and making the exam pattern fully understandable from the new batch. Imposing this exam without thoroughly evaluating the potential benefits, limitations, and impacts on medical education would be unfair to the students. Before implementing this exam, there should be uniform infrastructure, education, and training facilities across all Ayurveda colleges in the country. Otherwise, it would be unjust to many students."

"During their internship, intern doctors need to prepare for postgraduate entrance exams. These exams are expected to be held every year in April, but they usually take place in May and June. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine states that NExT will be conducted in February and August every year. Therefore, from this year, students will have to prepare for two exams simultaneously during their internship, with a possibility of both exams coinciding. As of now, a separate syllabus for NExT has not been provided. The B.A.M.S. curriculum was revised in 2022, requiring these intern doctors to study the new syllabus. Since NExT will impact postgraduate entrance exams, students and parents are worried," he had further mentioned in the release.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NExT was made mandatory for AYUSH courses including BAMS in the newly introduced National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (National Examinations for Indian System of Medicine) Regulations, 2023, which were published in the Gazette notification dated 20.12.2023.

It had been clarified in the Gazette that the AYUSH NExT would be held for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and SowaRigpa courses, and without passing the exam, any graduate of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery or Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery or Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery or Bachelor of SowaRigpa Medicine and Surgery, would not be eligible for enrollment in the State Register or National Register.

Also Read: NEXT now Mandatory after BAMS, BSMS, BUMS courses Regulations released