IMA throws googly! Opposes exit exam after graduation … but doesn’t mind it before graduation!
Our earlier article spoke about the proposed exit exam for MBBS graduates in a quest to churn out better doctors. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has now written to the Union Health Ministry expressing disapproval at the idea of an exit exam for MBBS graduates. The issue gained has gained more momentum after IMA head Dr. K.K. Aggarwal communicated with senior officials from the Union health ministry as well as officials from the MCI.
What does the IMA propose?
– Merging the exit exam with the final MBBS exam as a final year cum licensing exit exam which can also act as test for admission into post graduate courses.
– An exit exam-even a voluntary one- would create two kinds of doctors in the minds of the public. The “superior” doctors who had given and cleared the exam and the “inferior” ones who hadn’t. According to the IMA, this would not bode well for the medical fraternity.
What do other senior medical officials in health ministry think about Dr. Aggarwal’s suggestion?
– Doctors outside the IMA have disagreed with Dr. Aggarwal. Dr. Bipin Batra of the NBE makes a strong point about the difference between an exit exam and an MBBS final exam. He says that an MBBS exam is designed to assess a candidate’s knowledge and skills after training. It is only after an internship that a doctor can possess the attributes to practice medicine and undergo a licensing or exit exam.
– Having an exit exam is a tried and tested concept and is the norm in countries such as USA (USMLE), UK (UKMLA to start from June 2015), Thailand (THMLET) and China (NMLET).
“So, budding doctors..the million dollar question is this- would you rather give a combined mega exam at the end of final year MBBS or an extra exam after graduating to be eligible to practise??”
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Change in MBBS curriculum after 60 years.
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