Thrissur: The vice-chancellors of medical universities have spoken out against conducting the National Exit Exam (NExT) phase one in lieu of the licentiate final examinations of MBBS. They have taken a stand stating that the universities do not hold the responsibility of issuing degrees for examinations conducted by external agencies.

The Association of Health Science Universities has submitted a petition regarding the same to the National Medical Commission. Discussions should be held with the universities before implementing the reform, they said. 

The National Exit Test (NExT) is a postgraduate medical exam designed to serve as a qualifying exam for final year MBBS students and licentiate them. It would replace Foreign Medical Graduate Examination and NEET PG. The first exam is scheduled for May 2024.

As per the current norm, universities should provide licentiate degrees to those who successfully complete their internship programme (house surgency). 

NExT examinations are not part of such courses. Those who have completed their course based on the current curriculum will find it challenging to follow the new norms, the VC’s argue. 

Hence, the move to implement this norm from the current year onwards should be abandoned. Association President Dr. Mohan Kunnumal who is the Health University VC said that NExT phase one exam should replace PG-NEET and that the phase two exam should be made the licentiate exam. 

In response to the complaints of potential difficulties faced by the students, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya assured that NExT will only be applicable for the 2020 batch onwards. 

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) argued that the NExT exam cannot be implemented until uniform educational standards are ensured across the country’s medical colleges.