Set up portal to assist Ukraine-returned medical students complete degree: SC

Explaining what the government had done till now, he told the court, which is hearing petitions by some of these students, that those who could complete clinical practice (residency) had already been allowed to do that in India and using the goodwill with Ukraine, it was ensured that they got their degrees. Then there was another set of students who were permitted to do their online studies and complete final year and residency in India.

As regards students who were in their first, second and third year, the government had liaised with some countries where they can seek admissions and added “except these countries, other countries are not compatible. Can’t insist on other countries with our view”.

He said the government had urged Ukrainian authorities to permit the students to go to these countries during the conflict to complete their studies and then issue them the final degree from Ukraine.

The bench agreed that Indian universities won’t be able to accommodate 20,000-30,000 students and asked what would be the process for a student to find out which foreign college is compatible for them and how they should go about the admission process.

“Let’s say I have to go to Belgium. How will I go?” asked Justice Dhulia.

Justice Gupta said there was need for coordination and suggested the creation of the web portal.

Mehta said he was told that a liasoning officer has been appointed.

The court pointed out that one official may not be sufficient and asked the government to consider developing the portal so as to bring in more transparency.

Mehta assured that he will discuss it with the government.

Senior advocate Salman Khurshid said the students may face language and fee issues in some other country but the court said they will have to find a way out if they desire to complete their course.

Senior advocate R Basant also appeared for the students and asked why universities in India could not do it if foreign universities can.

To this, the bench said they cannot insist that as a matter of right.

The Union Health Ministry had earlier filed an affidavit in the court, saying that it had already introduced some “proactive measures to assist the returnee students” and that any further relaxation, including transfer to medical colleges in India, would be “dehors (outside the scope) of the provisions of Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, and National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019”. Allowing such transfers would also seriously hamper the standards of medical education in India, the ministry added.

It also said that the NMC had approved an academic mobility programme under which it would accept completion of the remaining course in other foreign countries (with the approval of the parent university/ institution in Ukraine).