Students currently pursuing MBBS abroad and their parents are relieved after Medical Council of India (MCI) exempted the students from reappearing for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2018. Manish Patel, a parent whose daughter is studying at a medical college in Philippines said, “It is a victory of students. Uncertainty over appearing in the test had forced the students to fill up forms for NEET 2018.
There are students who have returned to prepare for the exam. Even my daughter had planned to return on April 30 to reappear for the exam.” In March 1, 2018 the Union Health Ministry had approved MCI’s proposal to make NEET compulsory for MBBS students overseas. However, now those who have already sought admission in foreign universities in 2017, especially in the Philippines and are undergoing pre-medical course before starting their first year MBBS in 2018 have been exempted.
The health ministry’s decision makes it easy for over 4,000 students who won’t have to reappear for the eligibility test. NEET 2018 is scheduled to be held on May 6. Darshan Patel, whose son also studies in a college in Philippines, said, “Parents from across the nation were planning a protest in Delhi as the exam dates neared. After a state level meet and another in Delhi, I was hopeful that students might be exempted.
My son had not returned and also did not fill the exam form.” Parents had approached the high court and also shot emails to authorities concerned for a solution to end students’ woes. However, this is a onetime exemption and granted keeping in view the peculiar facts of students. Those leaving India on or after May 31 to pursue medical courses shall not be exempted from the requirement of NEET 2018.