Maharashtra Gov Approves MUHS exams from July 15, medicos get 45 days to prepare
Mumbai: Finally eliminating the confusion over the UG and PG medical examinations due to the coronavirus lockdown, the Maharashtra Governor has granted permission to conduct all these exams from July 15 onwards as proposed by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS).
The approval was given after the Maharashtra State Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh approached the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who is also Chancellor of state universities, recently regarding the matter and met him at Raj Bhavan
However, the medicos are not happy with the exams being held this soon. The PG medical students who are constantly on COVID 19 duty, have come forward demanding cancellation of the exams. According to them, they do not have time to prepare for them.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the MCI order whereby all medical colleges varsities were directed to complete the University Examinations for PG Board Specialities by 30th June 2020.
Read ALso: Conduction Of MD, MS Exams: MCI BOG Issues Advisory To Medical Colleges, Gives Deadline
Accordingly, Minister Deshmukh had asked the varsity to inform about its impending examinations dates and schedule of all branches of health sciences at the earliest. A statement from the minister's office had mentioned students and parents are clueless, given the confusion over the examinations due to the lockdown.
Considering the confusing state of exams, Deshmukh had instructed MUHS vice-chancellor Dr Dilip Mhaisekar over the phone to end the uncertainty by taking a decision in this regard which apparently depends on the central councils and directed him to contact the concerned on order to clear the position of exams conduction as per a report by PTI.
Accordingly, Deshmukh submitted a detailed report to the governor about holding the exams from July 15 in the state. He said the decision to conduct these exams was taken after detailed discussions with the apex medical bodies.
In a letter to the Governor, Deshmukh stated that the university has unanimously decided to conduct all its summer examinations as per three alternative plans, depending on the situation, from July 15 onwards.
According to the first plan, the theory examinations will be held between July 15 and August 15 in a staggered manner if the situation is conducive.
As per the second plan, if the examinations could not be held as per the first plan due to the COVID19 situation, the same will be held between August 16 and September 15.
According to the third plan, if the examinations are not held as per the aforementioned plans, then the university will take guidance from the Central Medical Council regarding their conduct online, the statement said.
The minister told the Governor he had discussed the issue of conducting examinations with all the stakeholders and regulatory authorities besides some of the former Vice-Chancellors and Pro Vice-Chancellors.
The minister apprised the Governor that the university had held consultations with the Indian Nursing Council, the Medical Council of India and other central bodies before preparing the examination plans.
The said proposal was passed by the Governor and he granted his permission to conduct all under-graduate and post-graduate examinations of the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), as proposed by the University.
The Governor's approval to the proposal of the University has been conveyed to the Vice-Chancellor of the MUHS who had already submitted the proposal to the Governor's Office separately, the statement announcing the approval said.
Meanwhile, the PG medicos are upset with the decision and said that they don't have enough time to prepare for the examinations.
According to Resident Doctors, who are appearing for Post Graduate (PG) examinations, they are constantly doing duties in the Covid-19 wards and hardly got any rest should and hence should not be forced to appear in the examination. Former Central MARD President, now a noted Psychiatrist Dr Sagar Mundhada stated, "The Residents are contributing a lot in the treatment of Covid-19 patients in various Government hospitals. I firmly believe, this year the doctors should be promoted without forcing them to appear in examination in appreciation of the outstanding work they performed in the hospitals.
While talking to The Hitavada Padmashri Dr Tatyarao Lahane informed, "With apex bodies like MCI, DCI, CCIM and others asked us to conduct examinations we have to abide by them. Secondly, we are giving them a complete time of 45 days to prepare which is enough. They have been in the study of medical education for the last three years and it is expected they must have prepared from the examination point of view."
Moreover, Dr Dileep Mhaisekar, Vice-Chancellor of MUHS made it clear that the decision of holding examinations could not be cancelled.
