Will not be liable if contract COVID during exams: Maharashtra Medical Colleges collect undertakings from students

Written by MD Bureau Published On 2020-07-20T10:30:00+05:30 | Updated On 20 July 2020 10:30 AM IST

Will not be liable if contract COVID during exams: Maharashtra Medical Colleges collect undertakings from students

Maharastra: The Medical Colleges in Maharashtra have instructed the students to submit undertakings, confirming that the colleges will not be responsible if they get infected by COVID-19 during the examinations.

Previously the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) had given the schedule for the PG medico and MBBS examination according to the guidelines of Medical Council of India. Now many of the medical college authorities have instructed the students to submit a declaration.

This comes following the announcement of UG and PG Medical examinations by MUHS. Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that MUHS had already released the time table for the theory part for final year students. The UG and PG examination are scheduled to be held from July 15 onwards or from August.

ALSO READ: Summer 2020 MUHS UG, PG Exams Time Table released

Amravati VYWS (Vidarbha Youth Welfare Society) issued similar instructions for the students of dental college, demanding an undertaking from students that the college will not bear any responsibility if the student gets infected with COVID-19 in the course of the examination. The examinations are supposed to take place from August 4th to August 18, reports The Indian Express.

The undertaking stating "I agree that the institution is taking all precautions for preventing Covid-19 on the campus. But, if at all in any unfortunate situation, I get affected with Covid-19 infection, institution or management will not be responsible for it" is to be signed by all the students of the institution.

Commenting on this step of the college, the Dean Rajesh Gondhalekar stated that during the course of the exam, the college administration will be following all the norms of the social distancing and sanitization process. They will be conducting the exam abiding by the rules and regulations provided by Medical Council of India; but, since some of the students will be living outside the campus as well, the college authority cannot be held responsible for those students who will live out of the periphery of a college campus. He further added that their college is not the only one asking for such undertaking, similar other colleges have asked students to submit undertakings regarding the same.

Previously, the Maharashtra Student Union approached the high court with a PIL to hold the examination as the risk of getting infected was too high. However, the PIL was rejected and now the hospital authorities have started collecting undertakings. Nair Hospital and Dental College already urged the parents of the students to sign a consent letter stating that they themselves will be responsible for the health of their child after they arrive in Mumbai to appear for their final year exams. Under such circumstances, Maharashtra Students Union President Siddharth Inglequestioned as to who will be responsible for the future and security of the students.

The issue of exams for medical students is sub-judice in Bombay High Court. MUHS, MCI and other respondents have been asked to file an affidavit by July 31 and clarify whether quarantine will be necessary for students coming from other areas.

वैद्यकीय परीक्षाबाबतीत@CMOMaharashtra इतके उदासीन कसे असू शकते?परीक्षे दरम्यान एखाद्यालाकोविडचा प्रादुर्भाव झाला तर त्याचा खर्च कोण उचलणार?पुढच्या पेपरसाठी संधी कधी व कशी मिळणार?जर दुर्दैवाने जीवितहानी झाली तर त्याची जबाबदारी MUHS घेणार का@AmitV_Deshmukh?@SiddharthSIngle Part2 pic.twitter.com/bQLdMz2DMD
— MAHARASHTRA STUDENTS UNION (@masu4justice) July 5, 2020

After considering the issue of taking responsibility for the health of the students, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences recently announced COVID Suraksha Kavach scheme under which the students who will fall victim to COVID-19 during the examinations will be given one lakh rupees for treatment and in case if the Medico succumbs to the virus his or her family will receive 3 lakh rupees. However medical student welfare Association president Dr. Nilesh Yadav denounce this act of the Government and told a leading daily that "We have been asking for the cancellation of exams since May. In case exams are held, how will students travel? Even if they are allowed to appear from a nearby center, the centers are in districts, far from villages and talukas."

pg medicalmedical collegecovidcovid19coronavirus

Source : with inputs

MD Bureau

Medical Dialogues Bureau consists of a team of passionate medical/scientific writers, led by doctors and healthcare researchers. Our team efforts to bring you updated and timely news about the important happenings of the medical and healthcare sector. Our editorial team can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.