Medicos approach MUHS seeking cancellation of UG final year exams

Previously the Medical Dialogues Team reported that the final-year postgraduate medical (PG medical) and dental students also wanted to defer the exams and approached the Bombay High Court for the same but the court denied interim relief and clarified that final exams, scheduled to be conducted by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) for dental and medical students would be held in August. Now the aggrieved UG medicos have approached the varsity authorities seeking relief.

The university announced that the exams will be held from September 8 and almost 9500 UG medicos will be appearing for the final year examination from 245 centres of the state. MUHS has more than 300 colleges under it.

The Medical Student Welfare Association and Maharashtra Students' Union have approached the authorities while mentioning several issues which will make it impossible for the students to appear for the examinations. They stated that many of the students are stuck in their homes in rural areas and due to the unavailability of transportation, it will difficult for them to reach the center, Moreover, a great number of students will be exposed to the virus.

Maharashtra Students' Union has submitted a letter to the vice-chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and stated that "we are very surprised that the Maharashtra University of health sciences has scheduled exam when the state of Maharashtra emphatically stated that it is not possible to conduct the exams owing to the situation arising out of the COVID-19. This situation is far from resolved. There are many cases and the cases are still growing. Besides this, there are several containment zones in the state of Maharashtra and public transport is strictly limited.

The letter further stated that "besides all the respective councils of the different medical streams have advised through their guidelines that examination of final year student shall be conducted as and when normalcy is restored and on the direction from the state government." Hence it is "heavily risking the lives" of thousands of medicos, college staff and faculties. The guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home affairs order dated 29.7.2020 and by which educational institutions will remain closed till 31st August 2020 has not been replaced with new guidelines hence they are the universities to give priority to the safety of the students.

Commenting on the issue, MUHS Controller of Exams Dr Ajit Pathak told

The Indian Express that "We have got a go-ahead from the state as well as the High Court. We have had nearly 95 per cent attendance in our PG exams and are positive about conducting UG exams so that our students can proceed towards completing their internships, where they can work as COVID warriors. While a section of students is protesting, we have also been requested by the majority of students to conduct exams and support their careers." Only after the declaration of results for final year UG students, they will be eligible for national level PG exams, he added. While ensuring the safety for the medicos, the authorities informed that MUHS has increased the number of exam centres to avoid crowding and it will also be responsible for providing proper sanitization in the examination centers and disposable masks during the exams.