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Direct NMC to Reconsider Proposal for NExT Exam, IMA Urges Central Govt

Barsha MisraWritten by Barsha Misra Published On 2023-07-07T12:23:49+05:30  |  Updated On 7 July 2023 4:22 PM IST
Direct NMC to Reconsider Proposal for NExT Exam, IMA Urges Central Govt
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New Delhi: The proposal for the upcoming National Exit Test (NExT) examination is being opposed by the medical fraternity across the country. While some of the doctors are pointing out the problems of implementing the examination without a uniform standard of medical education in India, some of the doctors/students are worried over the implementation of the exam for the MBBS batch 2019-2020.

Opposing the implementation of the National Exit Test (NExT), the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has claimed that the NExT examination cannot be conducted until the National Medical Commission (NMC) makes sure that there is a uniform standard of medical education across the medical institutes in the country.

The association has appealed to the Central Government and sought its intervention. It has also prayed for directions upon the NMC for reconsidering the proposal for NExT.

IMA has opined that before the National Exit Test (NExT) gets implemented for Indian medical college students, it is necessary for the authorities to hold detailed discussions with the stakeholders and address all the concerns in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Students' Central Association ( SCA) 2023-24, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Kangra at Tanda condemned the NMC decision of conducting NExT Step-1 examination for MBBS Batch 2019-20.

The NMC last week issued the NExT (National Exit Test) Regulations 2023, stating that the exam will be held in two phases, with the NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2 exams being held twice a year.

In a gazette notification, the NMC said that NExT shall form the basis of certifying the eligibility of a medical graduate to register to practise the modern system of medicine in India and therefore, serve as a licentiate examination.

It will also form the basis for determining the eligibility and ranking for the purpose of admission of those desirous of pursuing further postgraduate medical education in the country in broad medical specialities and therefore, serve as an entrance examination for admission to courses of PG medical education.

Objection from IMA:

In a statement, the IMA said nearly 50 per cent of the total medical colleges in India were started just 10-15 years and the standards of such colleges cannot be compared to those with well-trained teachers and established systems.

“That too AIIMS conducting NExT will be detrimental to the students of newly started medical colleges. A minimum common standard of education should be ensured prior to uniform examination by periodic assessment and upgradation,” it added.

The IMA further said creating an exit test for a medical licence for Indian medical graduates is “mocking at our own system”. The doctors’ body said it is certainly required for foreign medical graduates since the NMC has no control over their standard of education, it stated.

Further, the association pointed out that a licensing exam and a PG entrance exam can never be the same as their purposes are entirely different. A licensing exam should assess the lowest minimum standard while an entrance exam would assess the best merit among students, it said.

“If at all a central exam is being conducted for licensing, the set of questions should be different from that for PG entrance,” the IMA said.

“It is mentioned that the testing will be based on high-quality MCQs. This is an injustice to the underprivileged sections of society especially in rural areas of the country who wouldn’t be able to practise medicine in spite of getting entry into MBBS courses, following the norms set up by the state and undergoing courses in colleges approved by the NMC. MCQ testing would not be the ideal method of testing the skills and acumen of the students,” it stated.

Apart from this, the association also pointed out that India witnessed a surge of new medical colleges due to the central government’s willpower and commitment and in the last six-seven years, more than 300 new medical colleges have started. A national exit test for a licence to practise will defuse the entire effort of the central government of opening up all these new medical colleges, it said.

The NExT for licence will lead to frustrated medical students on the verge of becoming doctors but denied a practice, which would discourage aspiring students from joining medical colleges over uncertainty, the doctors’ body said.

Ultimately, all new medical colleges would be deprived of students and forced to close because without establishing a uniform medical education standard, a common national exit exam for licensing had been forced upon the students, it added.

The statement said the IMA and its medical students’ network are deeply concerned about NExT being inflicted unilaterally on the nation. “The whole exercise of NExT has been a grossly one-sided affair without listening to the legitimate concerns of the medical students and the profession. IMA rejects NExT in toto for its anti-students content,” the association said.

“Under these circumstances, we appeal to the central government to intervene and instruct NMC to reconsider the proposal for NExT,” the statement said.

Also Read: Do not charge for NExT Mock Test: Health Ministry directs NMC

Protest against NExT for 2019 MBBS Batch:

Meanwhile, the Students' Central Association (SCA) 2023-2024, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Kangra at Tanda has opposed the decision of NMC to conduct NExT Step-1 examination for MBBS Batch 2019-2020.

Arul Sood President Students’ Central Association ( SCA) told UNI today that the webinar hosted by the NMC, dated 27th June, 2023 has created significant anxiety, apprehension, and distress among the students.

Sood said that while the changes being made to the Graduate Medical Education Rules (GMER) might be aimed at the betterment of the medical education system and producing competent healthcare professionals, but these reforms are utterly mistimed and ill-suited.

He said that the MBBS Batch 2019-20 has been subject to significant distress; and prolongation of the course duration due to the pandemic. Introduction of NExT as a qualifying examination for final year MBBS, in addition to acting as PG Entrance Examination, will only prolong the course duration to six years.

Arul Sood said that the Students’ Central Association 2023-24 vehemently condemns the Commission’s abrupt decision to implement NExT on MBBS Batch 2019-20. He said that we demand an immediate reconsideration of, and reformulation of the regulations after extensive discussions with all the relevant stakeholders.

Announcement from Health Minister:

Amid the severe backlash regarding the implementation of the NExT examination for the 2019 MBBS batch, the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has claimed in a viral video that there will be no NExT exam for the 2019 MBBS batch and the NExT exam will not replace the final exams.

Responding to a query raised by a doctor/student, who pointed out the concerns of medicos regarding the National Exit Test (NExT) exam, the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently stated that there will be no NExT exam for the 2019 MBBS batch. However, no official notification has been released by the authorities in this regard yet.

During an event held at AIIMS Raipur, the Health Minister addressed the query raised by a doctor/student regarding the upcoming NExT examination and replied, "There is no need for students to take any stress. I am not bringing 2019 batch under the criteria of NExT. I will be bringing 2020 batch under the ambit of NExT. Therefore, there will be no NExT this year."

"Further, final exam will not be replaced with NExT, rather the NEET PG exam will be replaced with NExT and this will be linked to medical registration. So, doctors will get their degree but to practice they will have to clear NExT. Both the Government and the NMC will not take any decision that will cause confusion among the students," the Minister further added.

This announcement by the Union Health Minister implies that for the purpose of the degree, the final year MBBS will still be the benchmark. However, NExT will be acting as a licentiate exam required by doctors to practice in India and will also be replacing NEET-PG as the benchmark exam for PG medical entrance.

Also Read:NMC NExT Regulations: Multiple attempts are allowed, but must clear all 6 papers in one go to get PG

NEXT examIMANMCNational Exit TestNEXTNEXT 2023National Medical CommissionIndian Medical AssociationTanda Medical CollegeMBBS
Source : with agency inputs
Barsha Misra
Barsha Misra

Barsha completed her Master's in English from the University of Burdwan, West Bengal in 2018. Having a knack for Journalism she joined Medical Dialogues back in 2020. She mainly covers news about medico legal cases, NMC/DCI updates, medical education issues including the latest updates about medical and dental colleges in India. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

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