Govt to recognise medical degrees of foreign nations

NEW DELHI: In a decision likely to benefit Indian doctors settled abroad wanting to return to their motherland, the government proposes to recognise the medical degrees of other countries, including the United States and United Kingdom.

Addressing an Indo-US health summit here, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today said the government proposes to recognise the medical degrees given by countries like United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and others.

"I want the support of the Medical Council of India (MCI) on this," he said.

"A lot of Indians who have gone there, studied there, want to come back. The government of India has proposed that we need to take a decision so that a lot of doctors who want to come back to India can do that," he said.

Asked on whether New Delhi should wait for these countries to recognise Indian degrees, he said, recognising their degrees first would be a step forward. "It is to our advantage. It is the first stage, eventually they would reciprocate," he added.

Ramadoss also emphasised the importance of changing the curriculum for emergency medicine in the courses being offered in India. "The concept of emergency medicine is not developed in India even though most of such specialists abroad are Indians," the Minister said.

Ramadoss added it was the curriculum at the undergraduate level which needed to be changed. "We need an international and more practical curriculum," he said.