Hyderabad: Starting 2012, students from the state will have to appear for just one national-level entrance test for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate medical colleges.
Contrary to its earlier decision to stick to Eamcet (MBBS) and PG entrance tests conducted by NTR University of Medical Sciences for these admissions, the state health and medical education department has written to the Medical Council of India giving its consent to participate in the national-level common entrance tests from 2012.
While the MCI had announced its decision to conduct a common pre-medical test for MBBS about six months ago, it made public the decision to conduct a similar entrance test for admission to PG and super-specialty courses on July 24. The state government sent its letter of consent to the MCI on July 21 even before the formal announcement of the PG medical test was made.
The government finally expressed its desire to take part in the national-level entrance test as the health ministry agreed to its demand for complying with the state-specific admission rules. The state government follows a reservation policy which is different from that of other states, especially in the case of OBCs. Senior teaching doctors and officials of NTR Health University have welcomed the MCI decision and the state government’s move to be part of the national entrance test. “The MCI decision to introduce common entrance test for PG and super-specialty courses is just one among the many changes that are on the way. The country’s medical education is going the US way. Andhra Pradesh has taken the right decision in agreeing to be part of the project,” said Dr A Y Chary, dean, V R K Medical College for Women and former director of medical education. Eamcet coaching centre experts in the state said that the MCI should release the syllabus for the test soon so that students can prepare well for the examination. “Till recently students had to write about 17 PG entrance tests and over six MBBS entrance tests. The state’s decision to participate in the national-level entrance test will be helpful for students,” said Jaganmohan Rao, a medical entrance expert from the city.