The Union Health Ministry has asked the state governments to set
up a protocol for reopening of medical colleges from or before December 1,
keeping in mind that all the COVID-19 related guidelines are followed. The
Health Ministry has received a nod from the Ministry of Home Affairs for the
same.

Since March, all educational institutions in the country have been
closed in light of the pandemic.

 To assist in
undergraduate training, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan suggested for the
provision of non-COVID beds in sufficient numbers in affiliated medical
college-hospitals.

“Needless to say, all SOPs/guidelines with respect to social
distancing and prevention of spread of epidemic issued by Central/states and UT
governments will be followed scrupulously by all the colleges,” the health
secretary said in his letter dated November 25.

Also Read | Centre’s new COVID-19 guidelines to be implemented from Dec 1: Here is what’s allowed

The Centre’s order comes in following the recommendation of the National
Medical Commission (NMC) for reopening of medical colleges from or before December
1 for those MBBS students already pursuing their course.

The NMC has received letters from students and medical colleges
expressing concerns over appearance in the PG-NEET exam. The current batch of
interns will not be eligible for appearing in the exam until they complete their
required clinical training.

The PG-NEET exam for the academic year 2021-22 has been postponed
due to the delay in eligible students completing their clinical training.

“Delay in resuming the training would have a cascading
effect on training of next PG and super-speciality courses in the coming
years,” the NMC noted.

The sudden lockdown pulled the brakes on the education system of
our country and impaired careers of many students.

“The delayed new academic session for 2020-21 should
commence from February 1, 2021. The new PG session for the academic year
2020-21 should begin from at least July 1, 2021 and therefore the PG-NEET exam
for AY 2020-21 would need to be scheduled around March-April 2021,” the
NMC said in a communique to the Health Ministry on November 12.

The NMC also noted that facilities for both outpatient and
inpatient management for non-COVID patients should be restarted.

The future doctors of the country should be acquainted with the
opportunities as well as the threats that healthcare systems present, the NMC
added. The medical students must grab the opportunity to learn the skills of
epidemic management.