‘Medical students returning from Ukraine cannot automatically be offered admissions in Indian medical colleges’

“Any decision to rehabilitate or help students cannot be taken in isolation by universities. The National Medical Commission is looking at ways and means to address this issue. However, we are trying to look at possibilities to ensure that the returning students are stress-free and also continue to learn what is relevant presently,” she said.

Dr Kanitkar said data on the returning students was being compiled, and more than 100 returning students had already registered themselves on the MUHS website.

“We had invited information and a form was provided on the MUHS website. Over 100 students have registered themselves there right now,” she said.

Dr Kanitkar said, after the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine crisis was the second wake-up call for the medical education system in India.

“Unlike some other courses, medicine cannot be taught online, without patients and hospitals. More ideas are being generated about the use of digital technology in medical education. We are also assessing what the shortcomings are at various universities offering medical courses. However, we cannot dilute our standards,” she said.