Final Year MBBS Medicos Demand Exams postponement, Write to RGUHS

The All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO), which led the protest, along with the representatives of the Medical Students' Struggle Committee have submitted a memorandum in this regard to the vice-chancellor of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).

In turn, the VC has reportedly responded positively and has assured the students that the University would call for a meeting within this week and shall finalize the decision by Monday, AIDSO Karnataka mentioned in a Tweet.

Issuing a statement in this regard, the AIDSO mentioned on Tuesday, "In the background of increasing cases of Covid that affected the entire academic schedule, the medical classes were conducted only 7 months instead of 12 months for final year medical students. This has led to partial completion of syllabus and many clinical postings also remained pending to students. And the present final year medical students batch have served at the time of crisis by treating Covid patients during the second wave. At present, there is an exponential rise in the Omicron cases. Amidst these severe crises of health and academics, RGUHS has declared the examination to be held from 22nd February."

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"This is utterly anti-educational and anti-student. This has created tremendous pressure among final year medical students and this move would keep their future at stake," it added.

Meanwhile, AIDSO Karnataka conducted an online Google form survey recording opinions of the students regarding the upcoming exams, and 95.9% of students expressed their views against the exam.

Referring to this, the association mentioned in its Press Statement, as reported by Indian Express, "More than 4,500 students have signed the form and a whopping 95% of them opine that they want the examination to be postponed. Medical students are the backbone of society's health system. Considering the future of medical students and all the above points, the medical students of the state and AIDSO urges the RGUHS to give sufficient time for thorough preparation for examination and only then set a schedule for the same."

Although the association mentioned in its Tweet regarding the positive assurance from RGUHS VC, while talking to TOI, Dr. Jaykara SM, RGUHS opined that deferring exams would be difficult and said, "All exams including that of nursing and allied sciences are underway. Health varsities in other states have also scheduled their exams. Before finalising the dates, the registrar [evaluation] had contacted all principals and taken their consent. Principals had said portions. Exam dates were then finalised."