Madras HC To MCI: Raise Qualifying Marks For Pursuing Foreign Medical Courses

The Madras High court has issued an order to the centre and the The Medical Council of India restraining them from issuing eligibility certificate to foreign medical education aspirants having less than 80 per cent score in their qualifying class 12 board exam, reported India Today.

The High Court (HC) also said that the qualifying marks for such students should be raised to a minimum of 80 per cent from 50 per cent that they require currently.

The Madras HC passed the order on a petition filed by a foreign medical degree holder. Justice N Kirunakaran while passing the order pointed out that only 15-20 per cent of doctors with foreign degrees have managed to clear the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination, a mandatory screening test for foreign degree holders to practise the profession in India, in the past 10 years. The test is conducted by the National Board of Examination.

"This would only make one to understand that the minimum marks of 50 per cent prescribed by MCI have to be revised and higher marks have to be prescribed," noted the Madras HC Judge.

Justice Kirunakaran wondered as to how candidates with 50 per cent qualifying marks could be allowed to get admission in foreign medical colleges.

MCI’s counsel submitted to the court that before the National Entrance cum Eligibility Test (NEET) introduction, the minimum marks prescribed by it for getting eligibility certificate was 50 per cent in physics, chemistry and biology together. Since a one-time exemption has been granted for the year 2018-19 from NEET, this position would continue for this academic year too.