National Exit Test to start from 2024, says Health Ministry
Context:
The National Exit Test (NExT) will begin in 2024, the Union Health Ministry confirmed on Thursday, putting an end to months of rumours. NExT will serve as the test for registration as a doctor and admission to medical postgraduate programmes, taking the role of the final-year MBBS examination and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET-PG).
Points to Ponder:
National Exit Test:
- The Union Health Ministry has stated that the National Exit Test (NExT) will take the place of the final-year MBBS examination and NEET-PG.
- It will be used as the test for doctor registration and entrance to postgraduate medical programmes.
- The NExT is slated to start in 2024.
- The exam is anticipated to be administered by the Delhi-based All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
- The NExT will evaluate the students’ clinical and practical learning.
Addition of Medical Colleges:
- The Ministry has expanded the national list of Medical Colleges by 50.
- As a result, there are now more than 100,000 undergraduate medical seats available.
- More students will be able to enrol in the medical education system thanks to the inclusion of these colleges.
Regulatory Actions on Medical Colleges:
- 38 medical colleges have had their undergraduate recognition denied as a result of regulatory actions.
- 102 colleges have received show-cause letters.
- Six institutions have appealed to the Ministry, and 24 colleges have appealed to the National Medical Commission (NMC).
- The NMC implements regulations to make sure teaching institutes adhere to the requirements.
- Inadequate patient availability for student learning, a lack of doctors, staff shortages, and non-compliance with the biometric attendance system are among the problems noted.
Reversal of Decision for Stanley Medical College:
- The oldest government medical college in India, Stanley Medical College in Chennai, had its status first revoked.
- The choice was later overturned, though.
- This suggests that as the appeals process develops, the recognition status of colleges may alter.
Impact on present Students:
- According to the Ministry, the regulatory process won’t have a bad effect on present students.
- The NMC regularly conducts regulatory evaluations, which include looking at the problems colleges are having.
- The colleges will be given the chance to rectify the flaws found during the appeals procedure.
