Quality Test for Medical Graduates

MCI proposes New Quality Test for Medical Grads

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has proposed to introduce an Indian Medical Graduate (IMG) degree from the year 2013, which will be a national level examination to increase the credibility of medical practitioners.
The MCI has planned to introduce two such examinations, one each for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students and has said that the tests would be similar to an ISI mark for doctors that would ensure good quality of service.
MCI governing body Chief Dr. S. K. Sarin said on Tuesday that the IMG test will be conducted two months after undergraduate medical students appear for their MBBS examinations. He added that appearing for the test would be voluntary and any undergraduate student would be able to take it between the years 2013c and 2016.
The MCI has planned that the test would be made mandatory for all undergraduate students from the year 2017.
The Council has further planned to introduce a Master of Medicine (M.Med.) examination for postgraduate medical students that will be a two year course after MBBS.
According to the council's proposal, doctors who have obtained the M.Med degree will become specialist in any field of their choice. These postgraduate students will be trained to enhance their clinical skills rather than basic research.
Medical students who would opt for M.Med will also be able to choose to do a six month long rural stint within the two-year timeframe of the course. M.Med degree holders will also be given additional 5% marks when they apply for a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Surgery (MS) degree.
Dr. Sarin said that students usually miss a PG seat for MS or MD by only one mark and giving them the 5% marks would give them an added advantage. The MCI is also giving much importance to the one-year compulsory internship that students are required to do after they have appeared for their MBBS examination.
In a first of its kind move, students will be graded on how well they perform during their internship, with almost 50% of their MBBS marks resting on the internship alone and these will be added to their IMG theory score.