Future of Ukraine returnees to be decided soon: Sudhakar

NT Correspondent

The future of medical students who have returned from wartorn Ukraine to Karnataka will be discussed with vicechancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and a solution will be found, said Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K. Sudhakar.

Replying to U.T. Khader during the zero hour discussion in the State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Dr Sudhakar said the Medical Education Policy was formulated by National Medical Council and the state government has no say in it.

However, a suggestion to this effect would be made to the National Medical Council and NEET. As a prelude to it, the matter would be discussed with the VC of RGUHS. The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already declared that a policy to empower states to fix the fees of 50 per cent of students in private medical colleges would be formulated soon.

Once implemented, it would provide solutions to a majority of problems afflicting medical education. A decision had been taken that the state government would arrange for coaching students for NEET exam but the National Medical Council has to decide on the admission of students to colleges.

Dr Sudhakar also said that over 20,000 students were studying in Ukraine and all the students from Karnataka have been safely evacuated. The remaining students would be airlifted to India soon. The Government of India is operating special flights to bring back the stranded Indian students from various states of warhit Ukraine, he said.

Earlier, Mr Khader appealed to the government to think about the future of medicos studying in Ukraine who have been forced to return due to war between Russia and Ukraine. Already, a medical student from Haveri has died in shelling by Russian troops.

The minister must hold a dialogue with the RGUHS VC to find a solution to the problems of the Ukraine returned medicos, he said. He also asked the government to take a re-look at NEET which is causing injustice to Karnataka students who are finding it difficult to secure medical seats in colleges.