Increase in the number of Indian students going abroad to study medicine

An RTI inquiry revealed that there has been an increase in the number of Indian students going abroad to study medicine. The Medical Council of India received the RTI inquiry in October 2018. The MCI stated that the number of students seeking eligibility certificate has doubled in 2017-18 as compared to 2016-17.

According to RTI no MCI-201 (E-RTI)/2018-Eligi./, MCI received 18,383 applications in 2017-18. Whereas in 2016-17 the number of Indian students seeking eligibility certificate was 10,555.

Dr Sylvia Karpagam who is a public health doctor said that the migration of Indian doctors has been happening since long. She believes it is because of the way the entire medical education system has been structured. The medical curriculum in India does not follow the diseases prevalent in the country. Rather than primary healthcare, students are trained in tertiary care. They, hence, find it difficult to work in rural or primary health care settings.

As per the RTI, MCI issued eligibility certificates to 14,118 students in 2017-18. Eligibility certificates were issued to only 8,737 students in 2016-17.

Deccan Chronicles quoted Dr Karpagam as saying that there is a need to change the social structure of medical education. The Govt. should invest in training students on health issues prevalent in the country. The focus should be on the social determinants of health.

Mr. Saju Bhaskar, founder of Texila American University says that the number of medical seats in India is less. Indian students aspiring to study medicine are hence forced to migrate abroad.

There are millions of medical aspirants in India. However, the number of medical seats in India is only 60,000. This is inclusive of both Government and private colleges.

With easy access to information on the Internet, Indians students are now more aware of the options available abroad. The tuition fees in many overseas colleges are more affordable than many private colleges in India. Also, the curriculum in colleges abroad is more aligned with international standards. As per Mr. Bhaskar, there are better growth opportunities for medical students abroad. Hence, more Indian students now prefer to go abroad to study medicine.

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