China-returned medicos stage protest demanding practical classes in India
NEW DELHI: Almost 300 Indian medicos pursuing education in Chinese universities staged a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar road on Sunday demanding alternative arrangements for practical classes.
The doctors have been attending medical classes online since January 2020 and they have approached the authorities to accommodate them in Indian medical institutes to complete their practical training or to send them to China.
Under the banner of Indian Students in China (ISIC) and Foreign Medical Graduates Parents' Association (FMGPA) and the medicos staged a protest using the slogan "Chalo Dilli" to organize a pan-India mass gathering from 10 am to 4 pm at Jantar Mantar.
The medicos pointed out that the Supreme Court had directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to initiate a scheme that can allow these students to undergo clinical training in India at local medical colleges within two months. Medicos and their parents from Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Tripura, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat participated in the protest.
The group of Indian Students in China posted on social media stating, " Challo Dilli! On May 29, at Jantar Mantar. China FMGs and their parents from across the Country gathered and united for one motive, to save their careers. The demands were put forth, various media channels covered the news. Hard work always wins." All India Dental Student Association(AIDSA) has also posted stating, " Ask Authorities can you listen to the roaring voice all these Indian Students studying in China asking for their rightful demand. How a doctor can complete & study online for two years without clinical exposure. Peaceful Protest at Jantar Mantar Delhi."
According to a fifth-year student of a medical college in China, the medicos has appealed to National Medical Council to take note of their problems. He told The New Indian Express, "The Supreme Court has given two months time to NMC and now they have one month left to take a call on foreign medical graduates from across all the countries to accommodate students for clinical practice alone in India till the time they are allowed to go back to China."
Another medico who joined Nanjing Medical University in 2018 has already missed 2.5 years of practicals. He told the Times of India "We have not attended even one surgery or pathology class and missed almost 2.5 years of practicals. Our clinical starts in the third year and we have already missed it." The fees at his university are Rs 3.4 lakh per annum. "Several students also get scholarships upon performing well," he added.
Meanwhile, Foreign Medical Graduates Parents' Association has approached the Health Ministry and submitted a representation. According to the medicos, they had a very fruitful discussion and authorities are framing a GOI and soon the students will get solutions.
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