Untested Russian docs OK: Govt

A Supreme Court ruling on March 8, 2002, had made the test compulsory after it was pointed out that the pass percentage for those with degrees from the erstwhile USSR is just 7.8 per cent.

Moreover, an MCI report submitted to the Health Ministry in 1998 had asked for de-recognition of the institutes from where the doctors had obtained their degrees, calling them unfit to impart medical education. There were, the report said, lacunae in course duration, curriculum, eligibility critera and even immigration of students in these colleges.

‘‘However, the Ministry of External Affairs had opposed the decision to de-recognise saying it could affect relationships with the countries,’’ says an official. Students had started streaming to these medical colleges after a memorandum of understanding was reached between the MCI and USSR on June 27, 1986. As per this, 50 post-graduate and 50 graduate students were sent by the MCI between 1987 and 1990 for medical studies on a scholarship basis to 29 ‘‘recognised’’ medical colleges in Russia and Ukraine after an entrance exam.

Swaraj’s office says she wants the waiver keeping in mind that the students who took admissions in these colleges didn’t know their status. However, in 1997, after the MCI noted that these colleges had turned autonomous, it had put out advertisements saying their status was under consideration and taking admissions there was entirely at the students’ own risk.

‘‘If in spite of this, the students went ahead, it was their own fault. We can’t let people be exposed to treatment by doctors who are not fully trained,’’ points out an official.

The MCI has conducted the screening test thrice so far—in November 2002, March 2003 and July 2003. According to MCI records, of the 4,378 doctors who had studied in Russia till March 2002, 3,394 appeared in the screening test and only 374 cleared it. Of the 3,169 products of medical colleges in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), only 249 passed.

‘‘Other students from countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Romania are better performance-wise. Of them, 225 doctors appeared and 125 qualified, making their pass percentage about 55.5 per cent,’’ says an official who didn’t want to be named.

The Health Ministry decision would be implemented not only in the case of the 4,378 but also an equal number who are likely to pass out till 2007, adds another official. ‘‘Rough estimates suggest that about 700 to 1,000 students pass out from these institutes every year.’’ The proposal has been forwarded to the Law Ministry, and a reply is awaited. ‘‘There are a lot of legalities involved,’’ says Health Secretary J.V.R. Prasada Rao.