Students who studied abroad should not be made to suffer

It is not aptitude; rather, it is the compulsion of parents that compels the majority of students to study medicine. The generation of parents who believe that their life ambition is fulfilled if their children become doctors by any means is now slowly changing. The fact that it is tougher than other studies, the obstacles faced by those who pass the medical exam, the lack of opportunities, and the relatively low salary are the factors that currently compel students to turn away from studying medicine. Many diverse modern courses have emerged in recent times, unlike in the past, when students who passed Plus Two in science had only two branches of study, medicine and engineering.

There is a situation where seats are vacant in private engineering colleges across India, even after reducing fees. However, children are still interested in studying medicine. Academic experts point out that in the future, there will be a situation where children will not be interested in studying medicine either. In this era where specialisation is of great importance, just obtaining an MBBS will not get someone full recognition and employment as a doctor. If a doctor wants to get an MD, they have to study again for three years and spend more than one crore rupees if they are in the private sector. Students who go for medicine have to devote almost their entire youth to studies.

The future of the majority of those who have turned to medicine will continue to be in crisis, while their classmates who have turned to IT and other fields are earning high salaries and entering family life. Although it is late, parents have started to realize this and move away from the idea of ​​making their children doctors. However, the number of students from Kerala who have gone to foreign countries like China and Russia to study medicine is still very high. Those who have completed their studies abroad are eligible to practice as doctors in India only if they pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination. They can apply for registration only after passing this examination and completing an internship.

This exam is very difficult to pass. However, the current situation in Kerala is that even those who pass it are not given the opportunity for an internship and are made to suffer again. The 425 students who have passed this exam are being denied the opportunity on the grounds that there are no vacancies in government medical colleges. This is cruelty towards them. Most of them complete their studies abroad by taking bank loans etc. Only after they get registered after the internship can they get a job and start repaying the loan etc. Their crisis will be resolved if the government intervenes and provides opportunities in private medical colleges. There should be a completely humane approach from the health department in this regard.