The National Medical Commission on Tuesday issued a no-objection for the academic mobility programme for Indian medical students studying at universities in Ukraine.
As part of the mobility programme, foreign students at Ukrainian universities are given an option to pursue their courses at other institutions across Europe.
Some of the medical students from West Bengal said Tuesday’s notification was likely to bring some relief but said there was still no clarity on whether the Indian government would recognise online classes being conducted by Ukrainian institutes.
“It is informed that the mobility programme offered by Ukraine has been considered in the Commission in consultation with Ministry of External Affairs wherein it was intimated that the academy mobility programme is a temporary relocation to other universities in different countries globally. However, the degree will be awarded by the parent Ukrainian university,” a notice uploaded on the NMC website stated.
“The Commission hereby conveys its No-objection for academic mobility programme in respect of Indian medical students who are studying in Ukraine provided that other criteria of Screening Test Regulations 2002 are fulfilled,” the notice stated.
More than 400 medical students from West Bengal, like many others across India, who were forced out of Ukraine following the Russian invasion, are still facing an uncertain future as the commission has said they cannot be accommodated in medical colleges in India.
The National Medical Commission has also issued difficult clauses for pursuing online classes.
Many students have been demanding that they should be allowed to accept the mobility programme offered by some Ukrainian universities.
Surajit Bose, a second-year student of Zaporizhzhia State Medical University, said he would now wait for a formal communication from the university.
“We had earlier in July held a meeting with the Zaporizhzhia university, where they said online classes would continue. Now, if the university allows me, I will go to any other country to pursue the course,” said Surajit, who is now attending online classes being conducted by the Ukrainian institute and doing “observership” at SSKM Hospital.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had allowed “observership” for the medical students from Ukraine at West Bengal’s medical colleges, where they can observe practical classes.
