New Delhi: After announcing that NEET scores will be valid for a period of three years for those candidates who wish to pursue MBBS abroad, the Medical Council of India (MCI) recently issued a clarification about the applicability of this new rule for NEET 2019 and those who had given NEET 2019

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that Medical Council of India (MCI) with the prior approval of the Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi had made Amendments 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 Notifications dated 15* March, 2018, for the requirement of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in respect of the Indian Citizen/Overseas Citizen of India who are desirous for taking admission in MBBS or its equivalent medical course in a medical University/College/Institute outside the country on or after May, 2018.

Subsequently, as per Public Notice dated 14th September, 2018 issued by the Medical Council of India based on High Court of Delhi order at New Delhi, Indian Citizens/OCI who had not registered/appeared/qualified NEET 2018, were allowed to take admission in MBBS or equivalent medical course in a medical University outside the country in the academic year 2018-19.

In reference to the Notification dated 1st March, 2018 and Public Notices issued by the Medical Council of India from time to time, representations from various sources were received seeking clarification regarding qualifying NEET at the time of admission in Doctor of Medicine course at Philippines, last date of admission in MBBS or equivalent medical course without qualifying NEET 2018 etc.

Accordingly, the matter was considered by the Board of Governors (BoG) and it is clarified as under:-

1. The candidates who have qualified NEET from 2019 onwards and leave the country for pursuing pre-medical/language course will not be required to qualify NEET again at the time of their actual admission In MBBS or equivalent medical course in the subsequent year(s) after completion of the pre-medical/language course.


2. Candidates who qualify NEET once, his/her NEET score shall be valid for a period of three (3) years from the date of declaration of Such candidates shall be entitled to pursue MBBS or equivalent medical course including pre-medical/language course, if any, followed by MBBS or equivalent medical course.


3. Indian Citizens/OCI who have not qualified NEET-2018 and/or registered in NEET-2018 and intending to take admission in MBBS or equivalent medical course in foreign medical institutions are exempted until the declaration of NEET-2019 result which is scheduled to be declared on 5'h June, However, such candidates have to obtain an eligibility certificate from the Medical Council of India u/s 13(4B) of the IMC Act, 1956.


4. Indian Citizens/OCI intending to take admission in MBBS or equivalent medical course in foreign medical institutions after the declaration of NEET 2019 results can proceed abroad for acquiring primary medical qualification only on qualifying NEET.