IMA votes for a uniform MBBS exam

NEXT 2.0 to be launched alongside the Dilli Chalo movement in protest against the exam

New Delhi, 27 May 2017: In continuation of its intensive month-long campaign against various issues faced by the medical fraternity, the IMA has urged the government for a uniform MBBS examination instead of NEXT. The introduction of NEXT has already been mooted as the centre turning a blind eye to some harsh realities in medical education such as inadequate infrastructure in medical colleges, insufficient academic facilities, and faculty shortage. The test was introduced as a substitute to three tests, including NEET for postgraduate admissions, recruitment for central health services, and the foreign graduate medical examination.

The introduction of NEXT is likely to create discrimination between Indian Medical Graduates (IMG) and Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG). IMA is of the opinion that the MCI is empowered enough to check the standards of final MBBS exam by each medical university/college. The need for another exam when the students have already cleared the final MBBS exam is unclear.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “MBBS doctors are the need of the hour. They need to be cultivated and empowered. They should be involved under retainership in all national health programmes. More than 25,000 postgraduate seats need to be introduced in family medicine. There must be a simpler way for them to get PG after completing their MBBS. It does not make sense for them to appear in another exam (NEXT) to get license to practice.”

NEXT was stopped on track by the all-India strike by medical students on 1 February. IMA is now launching No to NEXT 2.0 on 6th June 2017. As part of this, all medical students and colleges in the country will go on strike and conduct protest meetings.

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “There is no doubt that the medical profession is facing some of the toughest times so far. It is imperative for both doctors and patients to understand that this relationship is a sacred one and that the dignity of the profession should be maintained. Justice has been denied to us and this movement is a call against that.”

The Dilli Chalo movement being organized by IMA on 6th June 2017 is an attempt to bring forth the atrocities faced by the medical fraternity and the IMA members will join the movement in entirety. The march will be undertaken by over a lakh doctors in the country, both digitally and physically, and followed by deliberations on issues ailing the medical profession.