Ukraine medical education more friendly: Dr SR Narahari, Dr Prasanna Kodimoole

While the country is trying to take a grip on the fallout of the turn of developments in Ukraine following the Russian military attack, the debate over Indian students making a beeline to that country keeps going unabated. If lack of enough seats in the general category is attributed as the main cause for the native students craving to reach Ukraine and other such countries, there is also an opinion that the courses elsewhere are damn cheap.

Ukraine medical education is far cheaper than in India: Today we have Dr SR Narahari MD; DVD, head of the Institute of Applied Dermatology (IAD) in Kasargod, Kerala and his dermatologist wife Dr Prasanna sharing their viewpoints on the present predicament concerning the medical education aspirants of the country. They feel that medical education in Ukraine is far cheaper than in India. They have also dwelt with many other factors revolving around the present crisis. Here, we go for their comments:

Selection based on the aptitude to learn: Dr SR Narahari bats for international medical graduates, defending them to be the order of the day: “The international medical graduates are the reality in the world today. Especially in the West, though it is new for us. In Ukraine, medical education is far cheaper than in India. Students say that the selection is based on the aptitude to learn medical education and basic requirements for service. They insist that the learning environment is friendlier, mentoring for students are easily available, faculty is more disciplined and student-friendly…

Dr SR Narahari

…Success rates higher than in India: The passing rates are higher than in India. Their exams are not fact-based. While the Indian system to date is fact-based. So people who can memorize excel. Such candidates do not necessarily have the right direction or aptitude to join MBBS. As a result many score high thanks to coaching centres. People who are not textbook worms cannot score high ranks. So, most of them often are unable to get into the courses they wish to study, while private colleges are expensive. Students choose to go abroad to study where education is cheaper”, says Dr SR Narahari.

Licensing system in India is strict: However, Dr Prasanna Kodimoole takes a look at the rigid system forcing various parameters leading to exorbitant fees in the medical colleges: “The medical college license requirements in India are strict and they emphasize on many technologies based facilities like MRI. Such requirements for undergraduate level are still a matter of debate…

Dr Prasanna Kodimoole

…Everyone is right in their own way: MBBS is mainly for primary care while private medical colleges look at specialization in teaching; it is partly driven by Government guidelines. Often people disconnected from primary care are committee members and it is that they are right in their own way. So, medical education expenses become expensive, thereby increasing the charges on students”, feels Dr Prasanna Kodimoole.

Ukraine gains from marketing medical education: On the face of it, Dr SR Narahari is of the firm opinion that the Ukraine medical education model is a runaway success because of its marketing. He says: “In one way Ukraine seeks to gain from the marketing of medical education. Low priced units of selling, more foreign currency adds to the advantage. Whatever their quality, the graduates have to pass the examination in their own country in order to practice. Hence it becomes an easy gateway for entry for many students”.

Thrust to increase the number of seats: At the same time, Dr SR Narahari is hopeful of a substantial increase in the medical seats in the days to come: “For decades, MCI supported private colleges and didn't increase government seats or colleges. As a result total numbers of seats available at affordable prices were less. Now it is relaxed, policymakers are giving thrust to increase seats and colleges. Hence, more seats would be available, allowing more students to get the seats.

Passing IMG becomes the criteria: He also dispels the notion of many a student going abroad failing to get through the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination. Dr SR Narahari opines: “Do students have the ability to pass the exam? NEET they could not, but they can pass the IMG exam and get eligibility, which is what matters at the end. So it doesn't matter if they have passed NEET; what matters is if they clear eligibility exam”.

Foreign Medical Graduates stumble in qualifying exam: But the paradoxical situation remains that the success rate of foreign medical graduates qualifying for the examination back home remains to be a dismal 9.94 per cent which looks to remain an alarming bell for all those dreaming of getting a foreign medical degree.

-Manohar Yadavatti