Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Government is not only against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Neet), but is also opposed to the National Exit Test (Next), which it made a part of its memorandum to the Prime Minister. Stating that it is not needed in the state, a source said, “One test cannot determine the standard of education over a period of five years.” “When our country faces challenges like AYUSH doctors doing delivery in the Northern states where they do not have adequate services, stress should be laid on getting a doctor with a Medical Council of India (MCI) mandated qualification,” he said, adding, “If at all something needs to be strengthened, why not strengthen the MCI's pattern of evaluation? Why should it be hinged on one test? A single test cannot determine the standard of education over a period of five years.”
Echoing the opinion of the above source, Dr G. R. Ravindranath of the Doctor's Association for Social Equality, said, “There is no need to conduct the test, as the students are already affiliated to colleges under the MCI. Foreign nationals can proceed with their research or even work in India without qualifying the exams, but the Indian students are compelled otherwise. It will definitely affect the job opportunity of Indian doctors.” According to the draft Indian Medical Council (IMC) (Amendment) Bill 2016, which was unveiled by the Union health ministry in December last year, the medical students would have to pass the test, which is expected to create a level-playing field in medical education, increasingly becoming privatised.
The state government thus included its opposition towards the test in a memorandum, which was presented to the Prime Minister in December last year. It said that the state strongly opposes the proposal to introduce the test in all medical institutions at the under graduate level and the proposal to make it as the basis of admission at the Post Graduate level through the amendments proposed to the IMC Act, 1956. It stressed on the fact that it is both an unnecessary burden on medical students and that it interferes with a well functioning postgraduate system in the state. “Already, our biggest concern is that nobody is focusing on treatment, but is preparing from the fourth year for post graduation. They are not honing their clinical skills,” added the source, stressing on the need for the policy to have a more holistic approach.
