NEW DELHI: Thousands of students, including Keralites, have expressed concern over the National Medical Commission's announcement the MBBS course offered online from China is not approved in India. Nearly 25,000 Indians are pursuing MBBS in China. Of these, more than 3000 students are from Kerala.

The NMC's announcement comes in the backdrop of a large number of international students including Indians, who have not been able to go back to China amid stringent COVID-19 measures. Medical Commission secretary Dr Sandhya Bhullar issued a circular in this regard after it came to the notice of the Ministry of External Affairs that few Universities in China started issuing notices for admission to MBBS programmes for the current and upcoming academic years. Those who take admission for the courses will have to study online as they won't be able to travel to China due to the Covid restrictions. China has suspended all visas since November 2020.

Indian students, including Malayalees, go to China to pursue MBBS at a low cost (maximum 20 lakhs for five years). More than 3,000 Malayalees study in 45 medical universities in China. Clinical classes will start from the third year. Clinical classes have not been taking place for the last 2 years. Students can pass MBBS only after attending clinical classes in China and passing practical exams. If an MBBS student wants to practice in India, he/she has to pass the qualifying examination of the National Medical Commission. The student must also complete one-year house surgery here.

Practical facilities in India: Delhi HC issues notice to Centre

The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Medical Council and the Central Government on a petition filed by students studying in China seeking practical facilities in India. The court issued the notice after 147 students from Ningbo University, who were not able to get visas to return to China, approached the court. They also demanded the approval of online study and removal of the travel ban by holding talks with China. Justices DN Patel and Jyoti Singh said that these students were not terrorists and should be treated as children.