Attention Students: MCI public notice clarifies on Requirement of Qualifying NEET to pursue MBBS from Abroad

New Delhi - Through a recent notice, the Medical Council of India ( MCI) has clarified on the requirement of Qualifying NEET to pursue MBBS or its equivalent qualifications from Abroad. In particular, the MCI has iterated its one-time exemption for candidates seeking MBBS admission abroad to take NEET exam next year as well. The council, however, clarified that if such candidates failed to clear NEET-UG in 2020 or 2021, their decision to continue their Foreign Medical Courses thereafter shall be at their own risk, as they shall not be entitled to appear for the MCI Screening Test or FMGE exam and thereby would not be entitled for grant of Provisional/Permanent Registration by the State Medical Councils

This comes after Writ Petition (Civil) No 4708 of the Year 2020 titled as Peeyoosh Bharat Saini V/S Medical Council of India & Anr. was filed in the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi seeking one-time exemption from the mandatory requirement of qualifying National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) Examination in order to pursue MBBS or its equivalent qualification from abroad.

This Petition came to be disposed of on 29.7.2020 with directions to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Medical Council of India to consider the Petition as representation and decide within three weeks. The decision of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Board of Governors in Supersession of Medical Council of India was communicated to the Petitioner on 25.8.2020. The relevant part of the decision is as under:-

"4. Owing to the extraordinary situation of COVID 19 Pandemic, as a one-time measure, it would be appropriate to permit such aspirants to take admission in Foreign Medical Institutes, provided they fulfill the criteria as provided in the "Eligibility Requirement For Taking Admission In An Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002" as well as "the Screening Test Regulations, 2002" read with "Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997" for admission to MBBS course. However, it would be mandatory for such candidates to qualify the NEET-UG in 2020 or 2021. In case, such candidates fail to qualify NEET-UG in 2020 or 2021, their decision to continue their Foreign Medical Courses thereafter shall be at their own risk, as they shall not be entitled to appear for the Screening Test and thereby would not be entitled for grant of Provisional/Permanent Registration by the State Medical Councils. Further, it is incumbent upon such candidates to faithfully follow with norms laid down by the Central Government for traveling abroad in view of COVID 19 Pandemic."

Following the decision, the Council was in receipt of fresh petitions/several representations on the same issue. Hence by the way of this Public Notice, MCI has clarified that

any Indian Citizen/Overseas Citizen of India intending to pursue Primary Medical Qualification (MBBS or its equivalent) from academic session commencing from August 2020 onwards is required to qualify NEET either in 2020 or 2021. Further such persons must fulfill the criteria as provided in the "Eligibility Requirement For Taking Admission In An Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002" as well as "the Screening Test Regulations, 2002" read with "Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997" for admission to MBBS course. This exemption is a one-time measure for such candidates in view of COVID-19 Pandemic and it is incumbent upon them to qualify NEET-UG in 2020-21. In case, such candidates fail to qualify NEET UG in 2020 or 2021, their decision to continue Foreign Medical Education shall be at their own risk. This will make them ineligible for appearing in the Screening test and thereby would not be entitled to grant of Provisional/Permanent Registration by the concerned State Medical Council.

The notice further added the aforesaid decision shall be applicable to all the candidates, who are taking admission in a foreign institute / University for pursuing foreign medical qualification for which possessing the NEET qualification is a prerequisite.

To read the full notice click on the following link

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-134051.pdf

Also Read:NEET 2020 not necessary for MBBS abroad, applicants can appear in 2021: MCI order