The Hindu Editorial Analysis
14 February 2025
The problematic globalisation of medical education
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 10)
Topic: GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education
Context
- Foreign medical education is widespread but largely unregulated and unknown.
Introduction
- Global medical education faces paradoxes: a shortage of doctors exists alongside resistance to expanding medical study access.
- Increased international mobility of medical students from various income countries is noted.
- Medical education has become nationally regulated while simultaneously globalizing.
- A conservative estimate suggests over 200,000 international students study medicine abroad, often in institutions with questionable quality.
- Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine hosted 24,000 foreign medical students, primarily from India.
The India Crisis
- India experiences a severe doctor shortage with high demand for medical college placements.
- Approximately 2.3 million students take the national medical entrance exam annually, but only 1 in 22 gain admission to over 700 medical colleges.
Growing Trend of Studying Medicine Abroad
- Fierce competition for medical seats drives Indian students to seek education abroad, with over 20,000 opting for this path.
- Studying medicine abroad is seen as an affordable alternative due to limited government seats and high private tuition fees.
- Popular destinations for Indian students include Russia, pre-war Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, China, Mauritius, and Nepal.
Indian-Controlled Medical Institutions Abroad
- Some foreign institutions are operated by Indian entities, such as:
- Manipal College of Medical Sciences in Nepal, established in 1994.
- American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine, a division of Manipal.
- Indian education groups are expanding internationally to meet the demand from Indian students.
Challenges of Studying Medicine Abroad
- Indian students must clear a national licensing exam and complete a medical internship to practice in India after studying abroad.
- Those wishing to practice medicine in other countries must fulfill local licensing requirements.
- The presence of Indian doctors worldwide highlights varying global standards in medical education.
Government Initiatives in Medical Education
- In February 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced significant achievements in medical education:
- An increase of 130% in undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats over the past decade.
- Plans to add an additional 10,000 seats in 2026, part of a five-year goal to introduce 75,000 new seats to meet demand.
Not Just a Global South Phenomenon
- The trend of students from the Global South studying abroad is notable, but not exclusive to it.
- Western students, particularly from France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, also seek medical education in neighboring countries due to limited access at home.
- Common host countries include Romania, Hungary, and Poland, with thousands of U.S. students studying in:
- Hungary
- Poland
- Ireland
- The Caribbean
- The UK
- Central and Eastern European medical programs cater to diaspora students, offering English-language courses.
Unregulated Growth of Foreign Medical Education
- The growth of foreign medical education is largely unregulated and often profit-driven.
- Non-English speaking countries, like Poland and Ukraine, attract international students with English-medium medical curricula.
Conclusion: Balancing Demand and Quality Concerns
- The government acknowledges the issue but faces challenges in implementing solutions due to internal resistance within the medical establishment.
- With an aging population, the demand for quality medical professionals will rise.
- The increasing number of students seeking medical education abroad highlights potential opportunities, but significant quality control issues remain that need to be addressed.