Don’t promote students sans exams: MCI

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, August 4

Unlike other streams where students were promoted to the next class without exams in the wake of Covid-19, the Medical Council of India (MCI) today issued an advisory to medical colleges and universities that no MBBS batch should be promoted without exams.

All medical colleges/institutes should complete practical, laboratory and demonstration test of the first year MBBS course within two months of reopening of colleges and thereafter, exams should be completed as soon as possible, preferably within a month, reads the advisory.

However, in case of supplementary exams of final year MBBS students, the MCI has asked colleges not to wait for reopening of the institutes. The exams should be conducted as soon as possible as students have to join their internship after clearing their final year exams.

On the pattern of practical exams of MD, MS clinical courses, the MCI allowed numerous relaxations in conducting exams of MBBS students. As per these relaxations, external examiners have been allowed from a different university in the state and these examiners need to be physically present at the exam venue.

In case it is not possible, the MCI has allowed external examiners to be selected from two different universities in the ratio of 50:50. If physical presence of examiners is not possible, they would be allowed through video-conferencing. Meanwhile, one medical college has been allowed to engage external examiner from any other college under the same state health university, said Rakesh Kumar Vats, secretary general, MCI.