Ukraine Crisis: Future of Indian Students studying MBBS in Ukraine - On Hold

Russia Ukraine Crisis: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. This has thrown public life into utter chaos and above all put the futures of thousands of Indian students studying MBBS in Ukraine in danger. While there have been multiple evacuation flights that have ferried the majority of Indian students to safety back home through ‘Operation Ganga’. However now the main question arises. What next for students who have been enrolled in medical universities in Ukraine.

Russia – Ukraine War Crisis: Latest Updates

March 4, 2022: National Medical Commission invites Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) to complete their internships in India

As per National Medical Commission (NMC) Circular dated March 04, 2022, all Foreign Medical Graduates with incomplete internships due to compelling situations such as Covid-19 and war, etc. can complete the remaining part of their internships in India. The same may be processed by the State Medical Council provided the candidates have cleared their Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) before applying to complete the internship in India.

The maximum quota for allocation of internships to FMGs must be restricted to an additional 7.5% of the total permitted seats in a medical college. The circular also goes to say that the State Medical Councils should obtain an undertaking from the medical college that no amount /fee is charged by the medical college from the FMGs for permitting them to do their internships. The stipend and other facilities to FMGs should be extended equivalent to Indian medical graduates being trained at government medical colleges. Read: Guidelines for Registration of Foreign Medical Graduates

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Russia - Ukraine Crisis: Indian Students studying MBBS in Ukraine

MBBS in Ukraine: According to data tabled by the Ministry of External Affairs in Parliament in June 2021, India had 18,000 Indian students enrolled in educational institutions in Ukraine, more than Russia (16,500) and France (10,000). Ukraine has always been a preferred destination of MBBS studies for Indian students.

Top reasons to study MBBS in Ukraine include

• Top Medical Universities in Ukraine are recognized by world organization groups such as WHO, UNESCO, MCI and medical councils of various countries.
• The primary language of communication in medical universities in Ukraine is English.
• Tuition fees and living expenses of medical universities in Ukraine are relatively lower than in other countries such as the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA).

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Studying MBBS in Ukraine allows graduates to practice medicine in India, however, with many of the Indian students coming home in the middle of their courses, the future looks bleak. As per the 2021 regulations issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) for Foreign Medicine Graduates (FMGs), the entire course, training and internship or clerkship of graduates shall be done outside India in the same foreign medical institution throughout the study and no part of medical training and internship shall be done in India or in any country other than the country from where the primary medical qualification is obtained.

National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines for students studying MBBS abroad

All candidates who pursue foreign medical degrees abroad should have undergone a course of theory, practical and clinical training equivalent to Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) of India; and should have completed an internship of twelve months in addition to such course in the same foreign institution where the primary medical qualification has been obtained. Medical students are also required to have hands-on training in clinical subjects.

Foreign Medicine Graduates can only come back to their country after having completed their course, an internship of twelve months and passed the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) to work in India to get a provisional registration with state medical councils. They need to intern for another 12 months in India before they can get permanent registration. The circular also goes on to elucidate that the total duration of the foreign medical graduation course shall be completed within ten years from the date of joining the course.

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MBBS in Ukraine: Impact on Indians studying Medicine in Ukraine

The average duration of the MBBS course in Ukraine is six years. Candidates would be required to further undertake an internship of 12 months in the same country to complete their course in its entirety. Thus, they are being left with three years to apply and pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination and get their license to practice in India.

However, with the Ukraine Russia war crisis getting worse by the day, there is absolutely no certainty when medical students who have had to return to Ukraine can resume their medical studies unless there is an interjection by the Government of India. Medical students would also be required to complete their course in its entirety within the 10 years or else they will not be allowed to register for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination. Unless there is a relaxation provided by the government.

Students studying MBBS in Ukraine – What Next?

Currently, the rules in place do not allow Foreign Medical Graduates to take admission to Indian universities or medical institutes. While a lot of the focus has been diverted towards Operation Ganga – which has been the need of the hour since the Russia Ukraine war broke out. A clear path for the future of these medical students is yet to be decided. Thousands of medical students are looking to the government to introduce sanctions and provide relaxation for them to be able to continue with their medical studies without wasting money or having to repeat a year or so. While the National Medical Commission (NMC) has told students to wait. Unless the crisis stops, the road ahead for these students looks rough.

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