Medical, dental colleges to give priority to final year students

MANGALURU: Medical colleges in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have decided to give priority to final year MBBS and BDS students once campuses resume academic activities.
The pandemic has affected calendar of events of a dozen medical, dental colleges in undivided Dakshina Kannada. Once the centre allows the resumption of academic activities at higher education institutions, the colleges will give priority to final year MBBS, BDS students. “This is to make sure that final year students’ internships or their future study plans such as taking NEET-PG or higher education abroad are not affected,” said an official of a private medical college.
Dr Dr Dilip G Naik, pro-vice chancellor, MAHE (Mangaluru campus), who earlier served as dean of Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangaluru, says, “Once the college reopens, examinations will be conducted for final year BDS students based on Dental Council of India guidelines, mostly likely before the end of this year. At present they are our priority.”
The final year BDS students (2016 batch) were supposed to complete their final examinations in August and commence the one-year mandatory internship in September. This is delayed as students have returned home due to the pandemic. A few BDS students (2015) batch, who were interning have also returned home when the lockdown was announced in March.
A final year MBBS student from MAHE, who started a new academic year in March said they have already spent six months with online classes, where theory portions were completed last week. “We have hardly four months left for the final examinations - scheduled in February. Before which, we are required to finish our practical quota, which is crucial in final year MBBS. We request Medical Council of India to give some relaxation and make amends to help student fraternity,” said the student, who is eager to return to the campus.
Dr Venkataraya Prabhu, dean, Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru told TOI there was no issue for students who are currently doing internships, which will go on smoothly. Final year students who commenced their academic year in March are likely to face trouble in case college reopening is further delayed.
A controller of examination official of a private medical college said the Medical Council of India and Dental Council of India must relax some norms this academic year including that of internship. “If not, the future of budding medicos will be jeopardized,” he said.