Ukraine-Returnee Medicos Can Continue Studies In Karnataka Without Additional Fee: Health Minister Sudhakar

However, he said the students would not be officially absorbed into the colleges, but their learning and practice would be allowed till a solution is found

New Delhi: About 700 medicos who returned to Karnataka from war-torn Ukraine will be allowed to continue their studies in 60 colleges in the state, Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar said on Monday.

However, he said the students would not be officially absorbed into the colleges, but their learning and practice would be allowed till a solution is found. There would be no additional fee for this, he said.

The Minister said this after a meeting with the students at Vidhana Soudha.

Taking this news to Twitter, the Minister wrote, "Our government has decided to permit Ukraine-returned medical students to participate in classes and clinical training in the State’s medical colleges until a final decision is taken by the National Medical Council (NMC)."

"This decision has been taken to minimise disruptions in their education. A high-level Committee has been constituted under the leadership of the Under Secretary of Medical Education Department to prepare detailed recommendations on the issue," he further said in another tweet.

Stating that a high-level committee consisting of Principal Secretary of Medical Education Department, Director of Medical Education, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences vice-chancellor, Registrar, Directors and deans of some medical colleges has been formed, Sudhakar said the committee would look into aspects considering the academic future of the students and submit a report to the State government.

Based on the report, the government would request the National Medical Commission (NMC) and Union government to take measures to protect the future of the students, he was quoted as saying by his office in a press release.

On the basis of the report, necessary requests would be submitted to the Union government and the NMC would take a final decision, he said. "We are hopeful and praying that the war will come to an end soon. We have to see what developments will take place in Ukraine and make appropriate decisions based on the situation. We will also need to consider the mindset of students and make the best possible decision within the existing legal and regulatory framework," said the Minister.

PM Modi has already initiated several measures to protect the future of the students and revive the medical education system of the country, he said.

(With inputs from PTI)