Health Minister apprises parliament about NEXT exam after MBBS

New Delhi: With the budget session of the parliament being on, questions were raised from the Union Minister of Health And Family Welfare about the impending common final year MBBS exam known as NEXT (National Exit Test) for admission to postgraduate medical courses, which is going to come into effect with the coming of National Medical Commission. 

Referring to section 15 of the National Medical Commission act, the provision that deals with National Exit Test, the minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan informed a common final year undergraduate medical examination, to be known as the National Exit Test, shall be held for granting licence to practice medicine as medical practitioners and for enrolment in the State Register or the National Register, as the case may be. He further informed that as per the act the Commission shall conduct the National Exit Test through such designated authority and in such manner as may be specified by regulations.

" The National Exit Test shall become operational on such date, within three years from the date of commencement of this Act, as may be appointed by the Central Government, by notification," the minister stated 

The minister confirmed that the test would also be applicable to foreign medical candidates

 " Any person with a foreign medical qualification shall have to qualify National Exit Test for the purpose of obtaining licence to practice medicine as medical practitioner and for enrolment in the State Register or the National Register, as the case may be, in such manner as may be specified by regulations," the minister said 

He also informed that the same shall be the basis for PG Medical admissions 

"The National Exit Test shall be the basis for admission to the postgraduate broad- speciality medical education in medical institutions which are governed under the provisions of this Act or under any other law for the time being in force and shall be done in such manner as may be specified by regulations.

The Commission shall specify by regulations the manner of conducting common counselling by the designated authority for admission to the postgraduate broad- speciality seats in the medical institutions referred to in sub-section (5)," the minister informed

Questions were also raised in the Rajya Sabha about the State Government of Tamil Nadu opposing to the said move.

Responding to this question, the minister explained," In the Draft National Medical Commission Bill, there was a provision for a separate National Medical Licentiate Examination after MBBS. The State Government of Tamil Nadu had raised some objections to the National Licentiate Examination during their presentation to the Departmental related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare. The Standing Committee took cognizance of these observations interalia and after due consideration, recommended in its 109th Report on NMC Bill 2017 that a Common Final Year MBBS Exam may serve as an EXIT test for medical graduates. Subsequently, the Parliament has deliberated upon the Bill and the NMC Act has been enacted on 8th August 2019 which contains the provision of NEXT. No further communication has been received from the State Government of Tamil Nadu in this regard."