NEW DELHI: Universities have opposed the National Medical Commission's decision to equate the National Exit Test (NEXT) with the final MBBS exam. The Association of Indian Health Science Universities (AIHSU) has claimed that universities operating under central and state laws are authorized to award medical degrees based on the examination they conduct.

The Medical Commission has decided to make NEXT qualifying for the final year MBBS exam and NEET for medical PG admission. The decision to write NEXT-1 NEXT-2 conducted by an external agency instead of MBBS theory and practical exams is against the current rules, said Association President and Kerala University VC Prof Mohan Kunnummal.

But Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandavya informed that NEXT will not be applicable for 2019 batch students who have to write final year part 2 exam. The minister said that the exam will be applicable from 2020 batch onwards.