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

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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