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A doctor with a foreign degree? You fail!
by Rishi Sun May 05, 2013 10:15 pm
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?285173
Thousands of doctors fail this examination every year, many despite
being repeaters. These are Indians with undergraduate medical degrees
from abroad. Failure to clear this screening test, administered twice a
year by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), leads to a curious
result: they may become general physicians in most countries, but not in
India, which is short of some 10 lakh doctors.
The test, first run in 2002, has acquired notoriety with low pass
percentages. In 2003, it was as low as nine per cent; last year, it was
27 per cent. Every year, there are 20,000-30,000 candidates, and it’s
being debated whether it might be hampering a good supply of doctors.
Some policy experts say the test needs a relook; others, especially
teaching doctors, say rigorous tests like this ensure high standards.
Then there are complaints from failed candidates, who say the test is
unfair. Speaking from Moscow, Shriharsh Jain, who has failed four
times, says, “I’ve always wanted to work in India, but haven’t been able
to clear the test. They ask PG-level questions.”
Dr A. Najeerul Ameen, director of the All-India Foreign Medical
Graduates Association, complains of opacity. Candidates aren’t allowed
to take away question papers and those who fail are given neither their
score nor the opportunity to look through their evaluated answer sheets.
This contravenes standard practices in most important exams, including
the civil services exams. One failed candidate was unable to get to go
through his answer sheets even after filing an RTI petition. Dr Ameen
also wonders why the test cannot be held at centres across the country
instead of only Delhi, when a fee of some Rs 5,000 is charged. The
Supreme Court has heard pleas against the test but upheld it twice, in
2002 and 2009.
Dr Bipin Batra, executive director of the National Board of
Examinations (NBE), says the results are only an honest reflection of
the candidates’ performance. He says undergraduate courses from abroad
have problems at all three stages: student input, which is of poor
quality; education process, in which there’s “little in terms of high
standard of education”; and output, where the quality of examination is
“questionable”. On openness, he says, the screening test isn’t run in
isolation from policymakers: it’s governed by regulations issued by the
Medical Council of India (MCI) and the central government, in compliance
with Supreme Court orders. “The NBE is in constant touch with
stakeholders for inputs and suggestions,” he says. “The final call,
however, lies with the health ministry and MCI.”
The shortage of doctors may have prompted the government to move a
National Commission for Human Resources in Health Bill, with a provision
for easing the entry of doctors with foreign undergrad degrees. But the
parliamentary committee on health rejected the bill. The health
ministry is now working out a system to allow NRI doctors to teach,
research and work at selected institutions (including charities) in
India. A ministry official, however, cautions against any hasty decision
on the screening exam, for it might imperil the quality of India’s
doctors.
The NBE has earned a reputation for stringent quality control: its
dnb qualifying exams in medical specialities and super-specialities have
a high standing across the world. The government and the MCI might
consider helping NBE add to that a reputation for transparency. One
reason for doing so might be to avoid the accusation of choking India’s
supply of much-needed doctors.
Thousands of doctors fail this examination every year, many despite
being repeaters. These are Indians with undergraduate medical degrees
from abroad. Failure to clear this screening test, administered twice a
year by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), leads to a curious
result: they may become general physicians in most countries, but not in
India, which is short of some 10 lakh doctors.
The test, first run in 2002, has acquired notoriety with low pass
percentages. In 2003, it was as low as nine per cent; last year, it was
27 per cent. Every year, there are 20,000-30,000 candidates, and it’s
being debated whether it might be hampering a good supply of doctors.
Some policy experts say the test needs a relook; others, especially
teaching doctors, say rigorous tests like this ensure high standards.
Then there are complaints from failed candidates, who say the test is
unfair. Speaking from Moscow, Shriharsh Jain, who has failed four
times, says, “I’ve always wanted to work in India, but haven’t been able
to clear the test. They ask PG-level questions.”
Dr A. Najeerul Ameen, director of the All-India Foreign Medical
Graduates Association, complains of opacity. Candidates aren’t allowed
to take away question papers and those who fail are given neither their
score nor the opportunity to look through their evaluated answer sheets.
This contravenes standard practices in most important exams, including
the civil services exams. One failed candidate was unable to get to go
through his answer sheets even after filing an RTI petition. Dr Ameen
also wonders why the test cannot be held at centres across the country
instead of only Delhi, when a fee of some Rs 5,000 is charged. The
Supreme Court has heard pleas against the test but upheld it twice, in
2002 and 2009.
Dr Bipin Batra, executive director of the National Board of
Examinations (NBE), says the results are only an honest reflection of
the candidates’ performance. He says undergraduate courses from abroad
have problems at all three stages: student input, which is of poor
quality; education process, in which there’s “little in terms of high
standard of education”; and output, where the quality of examination is
“questionable”. On openness, he says, the screening test isn’t run in
isolation from policymakers: it’s governed by regulations issued by the
Medical Council of India (MCI) and the central government, in compliance
with Supreme Court orders. “The NBE is in constant touch with
stakeholders for inputs and suggestions,” he says. “The final call,
however, lies with the health ministry and MCI.”
The shortage of doctors may have prompted the government to move a
National Commission for Human Resources in Health Bill, with a provision
for easing the entry of doctors with foreign undergrad degrees. But the
parliamentary committee on health rejected the bill. The health
ministry is now working out a system to allow NRI doctors to teach,
research and work at selected institutions (including charities) in
India. A ministry official, however, cautions against any hasty decision
on the screening exam, for it might imperil the quality of India’s
doctors.
The NBE has earned a reputation for stringent quality control: its
dnb qualifying exams in medical specialities and super-specialities have
a high standing across the world. The government and the MCI might
consider helping NBE add to that a reputation for transparency. One
reason for doing so might be to avoid the accusation of choking India’s
supply of much-needed doctors.
Rishi- Posts : 5129
Join date : 2011-09-02
Re: A doctor with a foreign degree? You fail!
by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Sun May 05, 2013 10:52 pm
There are scores of ABCDs who go study in these bulgarian and russian money colleges - much like the rich Desis.
Even in US, none of the medical schools and health sciences schools the students are NOT allowed to take their exams home and answer sheets are not returned. In fact, the test takers are expected NOT to discuss or pass on the questions (still many residents do and there was a scandal recently). So what the Indian board does is following the US methods. I would not be surprised if they simply repeat questions from USMLE step and 2 preparation manuals.
I wish they also force all Indian graduates to take this test - a must with so many colleges with questionable qualities.
Even in US, none of the medical schools and health sciences schools the students are NOT allowed to take their exams home and answer sheets are not returned. In fact, the test takers are expected NOT to discuss or pass on the questions (still many residents do and there was a scandal recently). So what the Indian board does is following the US methods. I would not be surprised if they simply repeat questions from USMLE step and 2 preparation manuals.
I wish they also force all Indian graduates to take this test - a must with so many colleges with questionable qualities.
Marathadi-Saamiyaar- Posts : 17675
Join date : 2011-04-30
Age : 110
Re: A doctor with a foreign degree? You fail!
by indophile Mon May 06, 2013 1:28 pm
Do they have equivalent diplomas or certifications in the U.S. for Indian LMPs and RMPs?
indophile- Posts : 4338
Join date : 2011-04-29
Location : Glenn Dale, MD
Re: A doctor with a foreign degree? You fail!
by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Mon May 06, 2013 1:39 pm
indophile wrote:Do they have equivalent diplomas or certifications in the U.S. for Indian LMPs and RMPs?
No.
Marathadi-Saamiyaar- Posts : 17675
Join date : 2011-04-30
Age : 110
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