Summary
‘Mobility programme’ arranged by the Ukrainian government, is an option given to foreign medical students to continue with their classes in other universities in Europe
NMC does not recognise the ‘mobility programme’ or the ‘student exchange’ offer being arranged by the Ukrainian authority
Indian medical student returnees from Ukraine who are still grappling with the break in medical career have been recently notified by the National Medical Council (NMC) that the ‘mobility programme’ announced by the Ukrainian government shall not be recognised.
‘Mobility programme’ is an option given to foreign medical students to continue with their classes in other universities across Europe, arranged by the Ukrainian government. They will remain students of Ukrainian university that they are enrolled in.
Quite recently, the Ukrainian authorities have asked Indian students to return to campuses and resume their classes or to enrol themselves in varsities of another country. As per the information, students can opt to study at another university of their choice for a few semesters under a ‘student exchange’ programme. However, the NMC has refused to recognise this offer, leaving the medical students in a lurch. The NMC further clarified that there is no corresponding option of students being accommodated in Indian medical colleges.
With this the only option available to a student is to take a transfer from the Ukrainian university and get admission in some other university. However, this option is only available to students whose courses had started before 18 November, 2021. According to the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations that came into force in November 2021, students have to complete their entire training and internship from the same university without the option of transfer. Therefore, for the ones whose classes have started after 18 November, 2021 no transfer option is available. These students will either have to return to the war hit country or else appear for NEET all over again.
A first-year student of Bukovina State Medical University (BSMU) said that they had been aware of the FMGL regulations earlier but still hoped for some relief from the NMC. “I had taken a year’s break to prepare for the NEET and when I was unsuccessful in getting a seat in a government medical college, I went to Ukraine. Starting all over again would mean a lag of almost three years,” he said.
Last updated on 20 Aug 2022
