NEET scores now valid for 3 years for candidates seeking admission abroad

NEW DELHI, March 22: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) aspirants who wish to pursue medicine abroad have a reason to rejoice as Medical Council of India (MCI) has extended the validity period of NEET scores to 3 years. Qualifying NEET has also become mandatory for such candidates. In addition to this, the decision of the extended validity period of NEET scores has made conducive conditions for candidates aspiring to study MBBS offshore.  NEET score will be considered valid for a period of three years from the date of declaration of result, allowing the candidates to study MBBS or any such equivalent medical course in a foreign medical institution. Under “Eligibility Requirement for Taking Admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution (Amendment) Regulation, 2019”, the new policy by MCI has been brought into effect.

Studying MBBS Abroad

As per the media reports, yearly, as many as 7,000 students choose to study medicine in a foreign medical institute. Due to the prevalent competition for a seat in government colleges, studying abroad has become an attractive option for many as it is a relatively economical choice for the students. “I did my MBBS from China and I would highly recommend it as it is a cheaper option,” says Chirag who did his MBBS from Weifang Medical University, Shandong province, China.

The average fee that a student pays for a government seat may be as less as 89,000/- (approx.) but considering the number of applicants and seat availability, the chances of getting admission are minuscule. The annual expense for an MBBS student in Weifang Medical University amounts to Rs 3,72,000/- which includes the living expense. Whereas, the minimum fee in a private college in India goes up to approximately 4 lakh a year.

Striving for Quality

Last year, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, declared that every candidate will have to qualify NEET in order to get the eligibility certificate for admission to the MBBS course abroad. The step was taken on the grounds of improving the quality of candidates going abroad to get primary medical education. The official notice read - “medical institutions / Universities of foreign countries admit Indian students without proper assessment or screening of the students’ academic ability to cope up with medical education which results that many students fail to qualify the Screening Test.” The Foreign Graduate Medical Exam (FMGE) is necessary to practice medicine in India.

NEET will be conducted on May 5, 2019, on a pen and paper based mode throughout the country.