COVID-19 Impact: MUHS postpones MBBS exams

The exam was earlier supposed to take place on March 23rd; however, it was deferred to April and now the exam has been again postponed till June.

The final year examinations for MBBS and other health sciences had already taken place but almost 40000 medicos are yet to appear for their Undergraduate exam conducted by MUHS.

Ajith Pathak, the controller of the examination for MUHS has confirmed that the decision has been made after taking note of the increasing cases of COVID victims. The information regarding the postponement of the UG exams was first announced by Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh on Thursday via Twitter.

While some of the medicos have taken sighs of relief after the postponement, some have expressed their concerns regarding the adverse impact of the decision on the upcoming academic session. MUHS considered several issues before making the decision.

Hindustan Times reports that previously some of the students approached the medical college authorities and submitted a letter to MUHS also stating that almost 500 students from several medical colleges in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Satara, and Solapur were still under isolation as they had been tested COVID positive. Some of the medical had also claimed that they would have to be under 2 weeks of quarantine period following the standard protocol as their family members had been tested COVID positive. 

" Some students are also currently stuck in mini-containment zones, making it impossible for them to leave the residential premises. Hostels, too, are overcrowded with four students sharing a single room and bathroom, which is the main reason for increasing cases in colleges," said a second-year student from Government Medical College, Solapur.

Moreover, a parent of a third-year student told the Times of India about the medicos' grievances connected with hostel facilities and have expressed her relief over the postponement of exams. She stated that as some have to undergo quarantine, many medicos have to share a single accommodation which is extremely inconvenient for studying. The student representatives also focused on the fact that many students who are currently infected with COVID will be unable to appear for the exam.

However, on the other hand, some of the medicos have been anxious as the next academic session is most likely to get delayed by six months due to the decision. The exams for the UG students are usually conducted in December but due to the pandemic, it is now being held in June.

Expressing her concern, a parent representative, told TOI, " The government should have conducted the exam in January or February when Covid cases were less. Students who are in their third year now will go to final year after these exams. Their session will be delayed by a few months, and there will be a shortage of interns next year."