Only MBBS? Become teacher

MBBS won’t be enough, from 2017, doctors will have to acquire the Indian medical graduate (IMG) degree, which will be granted on clearing an exit exam post graduation, to start practising.

Those with only MBBS degrees will have to look for other jobs such as teaching.

“There will be similar exit exams for post-graduate and super-specialty courses to maintain standard and transparency,” SK Sarin, chairman of Medical Council of India’s board of governors (BoG), said.

MCI has also decided to scrap post-graduate (PG) exams for medical students. From 2017, a national list of top students will be made based on MBBS marks and points obtained during internship. This will make internship a much more important part of the MBBS course.

A two-year master of medicine (MMed) programme, equivalent to the existing diplomas in various clinical specialties, will be introduced. After MMed, graduates will be able to take competitive examinations for doctor of medicine (MD) or master of surgery (MS) and other dual-degree programmes (MD-PhD, MD- MHA, MD-DM and MD-fellowships).

A two-month foundation course will also be introduced immediately after admission to MBBS to introduce students to areas such as communication skills, medical humanities and ethics.

Meanwhile, MCI has decided to shift to one national eligibility-cum-entrance test (Neet) for admission to undergraduate and post-graduate medical courses from year 2011. Neet will replace PMTs conducted by various boards and colleges.

MCI would also like to implement reforms regarding IMG and scrap PG exams from 2013, subject to government approval.