In a recent announcement, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has taken a significant step to address the challenges faced by MBBS students admitted during the 2020-21 academic year, who were unable to pass their first professional examination due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision, outlined in a public notice signed by Shambhu Sharan Kumar, Director of the Under Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), offers a one-time measure in the form of an additional attempt, referred to as a "mercy attempt."

The NMC's public notice states, "The National Medical Commission has decided to allow one additional attempt (5th attempt) to such MBBS students who were admitted in medical colleges during the academic year 2020-21 and could not pass their first professional MBBS examination, as this batch was also affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic." Importantly, the notice emphasizes that this allowance is a unique and one-time measure and should not be considered a precedent for future cases.

In a separate development, the NMC has addressed concerns raised by Indian medical students who pursued their education in Russia and Ukraine. The commission has released a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) along with corresponding answers, providing clarification on various issues faced by foreign medical graduates, particularly those who studied in Ukraine and Russia.

The FAQs serve as an explanation of a previous notice wherein the NMC offered clarifications on challenges encountered by Indian medical students in countries such as Ukraine and the Philippines. Among the relaxations provided, the NMC has allowed foreign medical graduates from Ukraine to continue their studies in a different country, excluding India.

This latest initiative by the NMC aims to alleviate the academic difficulties encountered by MBBS students during the pandemic and demonstrates the commission's commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by the medical community during these unprecedented times.