Licentiate exam for MBBS students likely by 2013: MCI

Updated on: Tuesday, April 05, 2011

In a bid to make the country's undergraduate medical education programme more qualitative, MCI plans to introduce the 'licentiate examination' by 2013.

"If government agrees to the proposal, licentiate examination to assess standards for an Indian Medical Graduate (IMG) could become optional from 2013, and mandatory from 2017," Chairman of MCI S K Sarin told reporters.
He was here to attend a conference, 'National Consultations on Reforms in Medical Education', organised by the Charutar Arogya Mandal.

The MCI intends to conduct licentiate examinations after completion of internship, to qualify for the Indian Medical Graduate (IMG) status.

"Our aim is to standardise the output of graduate medical education throughout the country in the form of IMG," Sarin said.

"The objective behind introduction of this examination is to assess the minimum defined standards for a doctor passing out from any of the medical colleges in India," he said.

"Foreign graduates who intend to practise in India will have to qualify the examination," Sarin said.

The online examination for MBBS students, who complete internship after March 2013, is scheduled to be conducted in four sessions, commencing April 2013.

"The large gaps in health-care accessibility in many parts of the country, need for enhanced clinical competency, and limited opportunities for post-graduate training have been major concerns for us," Sarin said.

According to MCI, the current estimate of doctor-population ratio in India is 1:1,700 against the world average of 1.5:1000.

The MCI Board of Governors, after inputs from various working groups, has reached a consensus the doctor-population ratio in India should be 1:1,000 by 2031.

The MCI also seems to have set the tone for a public debate on the eligibility criteria for pursuing medical programmes, with introduction of concepts such as National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test.

"Although, there is no possibility of students from commerce stream taking on medical programmes, but just to spark off mind-sets, some deliberations are going on," Sarin said.

Licentiate exam for MBBS students likely by 2013: MCI

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