NEET compulsory to study MBBS courses in foreign: MCI notification

New Delhi : The Medical Council of India (MCI) has announced that from now onwards, students who are willing to join MBBS courses in foreign countries must also take National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had last year approved a proposal of MCI, making it mandatory to qualify NEET so as to pursue foreign medical courses.

NEET is a common national level entrance exam conducted for admission to medical courses. The new mandatory rule which came into force from the official gazette notification, published in March 15. 

According to the notification, "the result of NEET shall be valid for a period of three (3) years from the date of declaration of result, entitling a candidate to pursue MBBS or equivalent medical course including pre-medical/language course, if any, followed by MBBS or equivalent medical course" for taking admission in an undergraduate medical course in a foreign medical college.

Earlier, Indian students were allowed to pursue medical education abroad and have to qualify a Screening Test called Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE), for registration to practice in India after obtaining primary medical qualification (MBBS) overseas.

Currently, students who wish to study medicine in any government or private medical college in India have to clear NEET which came into existence from 2016.

According to PTI, a student who wishes to take up a medical course has to obtain an essentiality certificate from the MCI for admission in any medical college outside India.