FMGE Test be Cancelled Or Postponed: Aspirants
Abrar A Mattoo
SRINAGAR, June 13: On Saturday, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) India, issued a datasheet for screening test of Foreign Medical Graduates. The examination is scheduled to be held on 18 June, but those medical graduates who are stuck abroad, fear that they would not be able to appear in the test, due to the travel restrictions amid Pandemic.
“Right now, there is lockdown everywhere and it is very difficult to travel across cities and states, let alone go to another country. Air travel is closed and land ports also have many restrictions in place. Even if we make it across the border, there are restrictions or lockdowns in place in every state in India. Apparently, this would make things difficult for us. We request the National Board of Examinations to kindly consider the postponement or cancellation of the examination test. The move would be highly appreciated and would be in our favor. Because until it becomes a bit easier to travel to the exam centers, we may not be able to appear in the screening test,” Waseem Ahad, an Indian doctor who is pursuing his internship in Bangladesh said while talking to Kashmir Despatch.
Pertinently, two days ago, the Doctor’s body in Delhi also urged the Delhi High court to postpone the FMGE test for the year 2021, but surprisingly, the court dismissed the plea.
To add, FMGE is a test that grants the license to foreign medical graduates who have not pursued their medical studies in India. Conducted by the National Board of Examination (NBE), FMGE is a mandatory examination required to be undertaken by all Indian citizens or Overseas Citizens of India who have pursued their education abroad. Candidates who successfully qualify for the MCI FMGE 2021, would be permitted to register themselves with the Medical Council of India (MCI) and State Medical Council (SMC) and practice the medicine in India.
“Those medical graduates who are already in India can join the workforce for now, and this move would add 50,000 or more doctors to the Indian healthcare system in the blink of an eye. It’s the need of the hour in the current pandemic scenario. Similarly, medical graduates like us, who are stuck in Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, and many other countries, can get respite until the traveling becomes easier. We are near about one thousand Kashmiri students outside the country. It’d be difficult for us to travel to India for the FMGE exam, which will be held on 18 June 2021. Therefore, we request the authorities postpone the exam,” a group of five medical graduates stuck in Bangladesh, added while talking to Kashmir Despatch.
“We are all going through hard times due to covid-19. it would be in our greatest favor if the FMGE examination Is canceled or postponed. We hope that our matter would be tended to, as soon as possible, and were not left disappointed,” Uzma, another foreign medical Graduate hoped, while talking to Kashmir Despatch.
Last year, as many as 19,122 students appeared for the screening test, and at least 3,722 candidates qualified for the FMGE 2020, conducted on 4 December. Similarly, 17628 are also scheduled to appear in the examination test this year as well. However, if the datasheet is withstood, most of these candidates may not be able to attend due to covid restrictions and other pandemic-related reasons.
