China, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Russia Emerge Top Destinations for MBBS Abroad as per MCI Data

Based on the last three years MCI data, maximum number of students applied for eligibility certificates to study MBBS at China, followed by Russia and Kyrgyzstan. In 2017-18, students also increasingly applied for Philippines, Ukraine, Bangladesh

New Delhi: Countries of China, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Russia were the preferred choice for medical aspirants when it came to pursuing MBBS abroad, the recent MCI data provided by the MOS health to the parliament showed. The data summarised the applications received by MCI for Eligibility Certificate

The minister informed the Parliament that it is mandatory for every Indian student wishing to obtain primary medical qualification from an institution outside the country on or after 15/03/2002, abroad to must obtain an eligibility certificate from MCI as per the provisions made u/s 13(4B) of the IMC Act, 1956 and clause 4(2)of the Screening Test Regulations 2002.

The Minister further told that as per information provided by the Medical Council of India (MCI), the exact number of Indian students studying MBBS or equivalent medical course in various medical institutions outside the country is not available with the Council. Instead, the minister provided the data on available with the MCI on eligiblity certficates issued by the council.

Based on the applications for eligibility certificate received, the total number of Indian students who have taken admission during the last three years 2016, 2017 & 2018 are 8901,15165and 17496 respectively and for the current year, 2019 up to 27.6.2019 the applications received are 4558.

Based on the last three years data, maximum number of students applied for eligibility certificates to study MBBS at China, followed by Russia and Kyrgyzstan. In 2017-18, students also increasingly applied for Philippines, Ukraine, Bangladesh

Following table summarises the total applications received for eligibility certificate in 2016, 17 and 18:

Mentioned below is the total applications received by the Medical Council of India during January 2019 to June 2019:

The minister further in his reply stated that As per the provisions made u/s 13(4B) of the IMC Act, 1956 and clause 4(2) of the Screening Test Regulations 2002 an Indian citizen/OCI intending to obtain primary medical qualification from a medical institution outside the country on or after 15/03/2002, is required to obtain an Eligibility Certificate from the Medical Council of India.

However, as per the decision of the Executive Committee of the then Medical Council of India, Indian citizens/OCI who have taken admission during the period 15/05/2013 to 03/01/2014, are exempted from the requirement of Eligibility Certificate. Accordingly, the Medical Council of India is issuing Eligibility Certificate in respect of Indian citizens/OCI who have applied and whose applications are found in order as per the statutory provisions/requirements of the MCI Regulations.

He mentioned that as per the amendments made in the "Screening Test Regulations, 2002" and "Eligibility Requirement for Taking Admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulation, 2002", vide Notification dated 01/03/2018, an Indian citizen/OCI intending to obtain primary medical qualification from a medical institution outside the country shall have to mandatorily qualify the NEET for admission to MBBS or equivalent medical course and the result of NEET shall be deemed to be treated as Eligibility Certificate for such persons. They are not required to obtain eligibility certificate from the Medical Council of India.

He specifically stated that Only the Indian citizens/OCI who have taken admission in MBBS or equivalent the medical course at various medical institutions outside the country during the period 15/05/2013 to 03/01/2014 (Ordinance period) and/or who have qualified NEET from 2018 onwards, are exempted from the requirement of Eligibility Certificate from the Medical Council of India.