Hope for Indian Medical students: China promises early return to resume back education

As per the Indian Embassy, the Chinese Government has assured that "they are cognizant of the welfare of all foreign students, including Indian students, and have also conveyed that they will work on their early return to China in a coordinated manner and will continue contact with the Embassy on this matter."

"Chinese MFA also conveyed that the return of Indian students was not a political issue and they will not be discriminated in any manner while deciding on the return of foreign students to China to resume their education," further mentioned the Indian Embassy's Press Release dated 22.02.2022.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that thousands of students were stuck at their homes for more than one year after the Covid-19 outbreak and they were unable to go back to their parent institutes in China as the Government in there had officially announced that foreign students and teachers would not return to their colleges until further notice.

Although students were desperate to go back and they sought the intervention of authorities including the Ministry of External Affairs, United Nations (UN), no fruitful solution was offered to solve the problems of these students.

Meanwhile, NMC has denied recognizing the online studies of those students and the apex medical regulator also clarified that those students would not be allowed to attend the eligibility test in India as well.

Also Read: MBBS in China: NMC warns Aspirants of Travel Restrictions, reminds of FMG Regulations

Referring to this crisis, NMC has recently warned the Indian medical aspirants to think twice before taking admission in Chinese medical universities.

"As per the extant rules, National Medical Commission does not recognize or approve medical courses done only by online mode," mentioned the NMC warning.

In such a context, the statement of the Indian Embassy in Beijing has definitely come as a ray of hope for thousands of Indian medical students unable to resume their studies for two years.

The Indian Embassy in its statement assured that it has been continuously discussing the issue of Indian students and agreed on the importance of in-person education. "Mindful of the concerns of Indian students, who want to return to China to resume their normal in-person education, the Embassy of India in Beijing has been continuously highlighting these issues with the relevant Chinese authorities in the last two years. In this regard, for medical students, in particular, the issue of in-person education is of paramount importance as it is impossible to undertake such studies in a remote manner," stated the Embassy.

The Embassy also referred to the NMC rules for Foreign medical students and mentioned, "In addition, the National Medical Council (NMC) of India has also clarified that students cannot appear for FMGE in India if the medical courses are conducted in an online mode. Accordingly, the notification of NMC (issued on February 8, 2022) has also been formally conveyed to the relevant Chinese authorities, so that they are mindful of the concerns of Indian students, who are enrolled with them or are planning to enroll at a later date."

Referring to the assurance given by the Chinese Government, the statement further added, "In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has assured the Embassy that they are cognizant of the welfare of all foreign students, including Indian students, and have also conveyed that they will work on their early return to China in a coordinated manner and will continue contact with the Embassy on this matter. Chinese MFA also conveyed that the return of Indian students was not a political issue and they will not be discriminated in any manner while deciding on the return of foreign students to China to resume their education."

"The Embassy will continue to work with the Chinese side on the issue of movement of people between two countries. All Indian nationals who are intending to travel to China are advised to remain in touch with the Chinese Embassy in Delhi and Consulates in Mumbai and Kolkata for further information. Indian Embassy and Consulates will also immediately put out further information on this issue, when shared by the Chinese side, on their website and various social media handles," it added.