MCI proposes new quality test for medical grads

New Delhi: 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.

Ina 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.