Ranchi, Feb. 2: As part of a nationwide protest supported by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), medical students on Wednesday held a protest meeting and demonstrations against the proposed National Exit Test (NEXT).
The exit test is being proposed by an amendment to the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act for MBBS students.
IMA Jharkhand president Dr Arun Kumar Singh and secretary Dr. Pradeep Kumar Singh said, “This is in contradiction with the Supreme Court simplifying the admission process and allowing admission only through NEET. “The ministry of health and family welfare is trying to complicate situation by proposing this change through IMA Act. This is totally uncalled for and IMA is supporting the protesting students across India.”
IMA Ranchi President Dr. Ravi Shankar Das and general secretary Dr. BP Kashyap said, �The test was introduced as a substitute to three tests, including NEET for postgraduate admissions, recruitment for central health services, and the foreign graduate medical examination,�.
They further said that if this amendment is implemented, it will lead to discrimination between Indian Medical Graduates and Foreign Medical Graduates.
Students said that only those who qualify in NEXT will get certificate, which is not the norm now. They contended that the exam would be a burden.