The Medical Council of India (MCI) has decided not to issue eligibility certificate to all those who wish to study MBBS course (or its equivalent course) at the universities in Curacao (an island in Southern Caribbean Sea) after the Indian embassy in Caracas raised serious apprehensions regarding the credibility of medical courses offered at St. Martinus University, Faculty of Medicine, Curacao, and Avalon University School of Medicine, Curacao.
The MCI issues eligibility certificate to an Indian citizen who intends to obtain primary medical qualification from any foreign nation within the statutory framework laid down in the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, and the Eligibility Requirement for Taking Admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002.
According to senior officials in the MCI, many students go to Curacao to study medicine.
However, recently the MCI received communication from the Indian mission in Caracas, wherein the Indian mission raised serious apprehension regarding the credibility of medical courses offered by the St. Martinus University, faculty of medicine, Curacao, and Avalon University, school of medicine, Curacao.
The embassy also expressed doubts about other medical universities granting degree in Curacao. The Indian embassy had also stated in its communication that allowing more and more such graduates to practice in India without actually verifying the credentials of their alma mater “will be risky and a burden to our healthcare system”.
In view of this, the board of governors in super-session of the Medical Council of India after seeking approval of the Central government decided discontinuation of issue of eligibility certificate to an Indian citizen candidates who wish to obtain primary medical qualification (MBBS or its equivalent) from these universities in Curacao.
“While the new move will not affect all those who have already studied in these universities and are practising. However the students will not be issued eligibility certificate for studying in these universities from now on. The board took a view on the complaints that were received from the Embassy and decided not to allow students to go to these universities for studying medicine,” added the official.