NMC and Centre got notice from Kerala HC on medical students’ petition

KOCHI: The High Court issued notices to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the state government, and the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Thursday in response to a petition filed by the Parents Association of Foreign Medical Graduates, Thrissur, on behalf of 92 China-returned students seeking a directive to allow them to do practical training and internships in any of the state or country’s colleges.

The matter was continued to March 30 for further hearing by Justice N Nagaresh. The petitioner also requested that the NMC authorise the online classes organised by Chinese institutions, and that the External Affairs Ministry take efforts to expedite the students’ return to their universities.

According to the petition, the pupils were compelled to return home during the 2020 Covid epidemic. Now, China is prepared for another wave, and it is unlikely that its government would be ready to re-admit its overseas students to institutions until the epidemic approaches zero. According to the group, these students were enrolled in medical programmes at premier Chinese institutions that had been recognised by the NMC.

Students are increasingly completing their studies online and are unable to obtain the necessary practical and clinical skills. The commission’s latest ruling permitted online classes for medical students in India, but not those offered by Chinese colleges. As a result, there is an urgent need for the Central Government to act and make required modifications to NMC laws and regulations.

The Indian government and media have painted a misleading picture of the quality of medical education provided by these Chinese institutes. According to the petition, this and other factors have resulted in a biassed treatment of these kids in India.