Gauri Chhabra
The collective result for Phase 1 and 2 of the NEET will be declared in a few days,as per the Supreme Court’s order. As the candidates keep their fingers crossed and wait with abated breath for their results, the harsh reality is- there are a very few seats for the top notch institutes and innumerable candidates vying for them.
For candidates who are not able to make it to the top institutions, what are the other options? You may opt for foreign universities. While countries like the US /UK/Australia can be very expensive, the most popular destinations in the recent years have been Russia, Philippines and Caribbean islands and Central America. These destinations provide flexibility in what you choose to do besides being cost effective.
Pre requisites
The pre requisites vary from country to country and college to college. Some universities organize medical English test or even entry test in biology and chemistry besides a sound academic record. You would also require letters of recommendation; letter of motivation; academic achievements; hobbies and personal interests; relevant to health care paid or voluntary work experience e.g.;work as a hospital auxiliary, in nursing or residential care, etc.; computer literacy; communication skills; teamwork etc.
It is imperative that the University which you are considering as an option for studying medicine is recognized as a good study abroad destination by the WHO, IMED, European Union, MCI and other international medical boards.
MCI regulations
The regulations for studying medicine outside India are governed by Medical Council of India(MCI). According to the latest MCI’s notification, all Indian citizens who want to acquire primary medical qualification from any foreign country on or after 15th May, 2013, do not require eligibility certificate from MCI- India. Instead, you need to fill the eligibility criteria as per the Graduate Medical Education Regulation Act 1997.On completion of MBBS course, you would have to appear for the Screening Test conducted by the National Board of Examinations in New Delhi, and on passing the same, you will be awarded the provisional registration certificate by the MCI.
Medical Council of India Screening Test,Foreign Medical Graduate Screening (FMGE) is a license test hosted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) in India. The exam is one of the compulsory necessities for Indian citizen who has a medical degree from a college/institute outside India to practice medicine in the country. The FMGE examination conducts twice in year i.e. June and December·The applicant must be an Indian citizen and hold primary medical educational qualifications that are recognized by the Government of the country offering that degree and the holder of that qualification is liberty for practice in that country. He must have obtained Eligibility Certificate from the MCI (Medical Council of India). This requirement will not be essential in manner of Indian citizens or overseas citizens of India who have acquired enrollment in foreign medical Institute before 15th March 2002. The cut-off rate for receiving the Primary Medical Qualification will be before the date of exam. It is compulsory to give ID proof/documentary proof in support of the candidate having passed final qualification for such a primary medical education on /before the cut-off date.
Study Destinations
Philippines
For the Indian students, completing their senior secondary examination with 50% is the only eligibility criteria. In Philippines, MBBS is called the MD Program (Doctor of medicine). Indian students who want to pursue MBBS course have to get admission for a pre-medical course first(duration of this course is 14 months), and on completion of the same, they can enroll in the medical degree. The total duration of this MBBS course is 5 years to 5 ½ year for students who have been educated till class XII with Physics, Chemistry, Biology.The first 12 to 16 months [1 year and 4 months] is called the Bachelor of Science program and focuses on building foundation for a strong medical education. This course mainly covers biology, medicinal technology, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and psychology After completion of this course, students can enroll in University in the Philippines.The next 4 years is the core medicine and clinical rotation.
There are no entrance exams to join medicinal universities in the Philippines. But few universities require students to pass National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) which consists of two parts. Part -I cover Verbal, Reasoning, Quantitative and Part-II covers Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
One of the best universities for MBBS admission in Philippines is Our Lady Fatima University which is listed in WHO, ECFSMG and MCI. You can also practice in India after registration.
China
Studying for an English medium MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) program in China has become increasingly popular over the past decade. Medical schools with English medium MBBS are recognized by the Medical Council of China and recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the “Directory of World Medical Schools”. Also the bachelor of medical degree is also globally recognized.Compared with some universities or colleges in US, UK, Europe, even India and Pakistan, it is so easy to get admission by a top rank China’s university to study MBBS. Furthermore, the entrance requirements for bachelor’s medicine study in China are also much lower than any other countries. The Overseas Medical Admission Test (OMAT) is ideal for students across India, Bangladesh and Nepal who wish to study medicine abroad. Conducted by Saraswati Online, the OMAT test would enable students to enroll in Universities in foreign countries based on their scores.
Some of the well- known medical institutions in China are Huazhong University, China Medical University, Guangxi Medical University, Ningxia Medical University, China Three Gorges University etc.
Ukraine
Ukraine is one of the hot destinations for excellent education at affordable and competitive pricing. International students find Ukraine more to their liking to Study MBBS in Ukraine.
Study MBBS in Ukraine provides students with many benefits ranging from help in availing loans and scholarships. For admission to the Ukrainian universities, the Indian students, need to clear their Senior Secondary education from a recognized school. It is mandatory to have biology in standard 12thYou can even work during their study period and get some financial support for studies. The top universities include Lugansk State Medical University which is known for variety of specialties which it offers. The modern, well equipped college boasts of six departments. Crimea State Medical University is also reputed for medical programs. The duration of the MBBS course in each college is 6 years. Donetsk National Medical University helps the students to specialize in general medicine.
Russia
Russia is a huge country that is part of the intercontinental landmass known as Eurasia.
As we know the expenses of medical study in western country are very high in cost, but study MBBS in Russia for Indian students is cost effective.The professors are well aware of the MCI regulations and the syllabus and pattern of these exams. In most of the universities, you would be simultaneously coached for the MCI screening test.
The student is also coached for the USMLE preparation the entrance exam to study or practice in the USA.The Russian government has subsidized education where a student pays about Rs 2.5 -5 Lakhs annually for fees and accommodation. seats for all students and a big patient to doctor ratio considering the sizes of hospitals. The degree is internationally recognized and accredited by the Medical Council of India and WHO making you eligible to practice in any country.
Some of the known medical institutions and universities are Kursk State Medical University, Kazan State Medical University, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (MSMU), Peoples’ Friendship University (PFU), Russian State Medical University, etc.
A pinch of salt
A lot of Indian students go abroad for their medical education owing to fewer seats in the country and stiff competition. These students who pursue their medical education abroad are supposed to pass the Screening Test conducted by the MCI before they can start medical practice.
However, between 2012 and 2015, only 19% of those appeared for the test have cleared it. One of the reasons of this can be that the country that you choose as a destination may not provide similar standards. Therefore, while choosing your destination, zero in on an organization that maintains the standards and prepares you for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), a prerequisite to start medical practice in India.
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