Medical students who have obtained their MBBS degrees from abroad have submitted an application with the Supreme Court, appealing it to direct the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to hold the National Examination Board (NEB) at least twice a year and that students of private medical colleges in Pakistan should also be required to sit the NEB.
The apex court, which is already hearing other cases regarding the PMDC and private medical colleges, has been requested to play its role in ensuring that foreign graduates will get a stipend during house job and those students who obtained less than 60pc marks in intermediate should also be considered.
NEB is conducted by PMDC for those medical graduates who have earned their MBBS degrees from abroad. The exam was started due to complaints that doctors who study in languages other than English face problems when treating patients.
There were also complaints regarding the quality of education.
Through an act of parliament in 2012, it was made mandatory for foreign graduates to pass the NEB. Some postgraduate qualification like a diploma from the American Board, FRCS from UK and others are exempt from NEB.
During the last five years, students with degrees from other countries held a number of protests against the council and alleged that the council was involved in corruption and nepotism during NEB exams.
The new PMDC management changed the exam pattern and also decided that results will be announced without delay. The exam is held by the National University of Medical Sciences.
In the application submitted to SC by the students, available with Dawn, it is claimed that the NEB exam is held once a year when the council rules say it should be held twice a year due to which students spend twice the time to clear the exam.
The court has been requested to direct the university to also provide a carbon copy of the answer sheets to avoid misconduct and that paid house jobs should be provided to students with degrees from abroad.
The students have appealed that since the SC has already taken suo moto notice regarding private medical colleges, students of these colleges should also be required to give the NEB as there are issues regarding quality of education in private medical colleges.
They have said the hundreds of students who have completed their MBBS but obtained less than 60pc marks in intermediate, should also be considered for NEB.
`Only a few of the almost 300 students who attempt the NEB clear it just because the council cannot provide them with house jobs. That is why we are demanding a carbon copy of our answer sheets. We are also considering holding a protest,` a student said.
Talking to Dawn, PMDC Member Amir Bandesha agreed that NEB should be held twice a year but the university is not ready to conduct more exams at the moment due to past controversies regarding the exam including students being forced to pay bribes.
`We have no objection to providing a carbon copy of answers and but the university rejected the proposal, saying it will only start unnecessary litigation,` he said.
Dr Bandesha said all students have to get a no objection certificate before leaving for abroad but they do not bother to get one. Therefore, students who get less than 60pc marks in their intermediate cannot get admissions when they return.
