MUMBAI: As Indian students from Ukraine stare at an uncertain academic future, Indian Medical Association (IMA) has recommended accommodating them in medical schools in the country as a one-time measure and not consider it for an increase in annual intake capacity.
IMA has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention. Over 18,000 Indians were enrolled in medical universities in Ukraine.
IMA wrote that as a one-time measure, these students be adjusted in existing medical schools through an appropriate distribution process, keeping in mind their geographical preference. 'This will need validation of certification by competent academic authorities of medical schools they were at in Ukraine. On passing out, they will be as good as Indian medical graduates, not foreign medical graduates,' said the letter. The doctors urged the PM to consider it as a special case on humanitarian grounds. IMA drew parallels with National Medical Commission's (NMC) policy of accommodating students in other colleges after closure of any college as a one-time measure.
Dr Jayesh Lele, secretary general of IMA, told TOIthey are just putting in a request to the government and NMC. "It is an unprecedented situation. We do not know how long it will take for the country to restore normalcy. These students who have completed their two to four years of medical studies will end up losing time and money. They may also suffer mental agony in future," he said. The government can decide on a special framework to absorb them, he said. IMA also plans to meet the union health minister with the request. Maharashtra University of Health Sciences too has sought information from students in Maharashtra who returned from Ukraine and has sought clarity from NMC on the possibility of accommodate these students in state colleges.
