Only 21 per cent foreign-educated doctors can practice in India

New Delhi: Only 21.76 per cent of Indian doctors trained abroad have qualified to practice in the country, parliament was informed on Tuesday.

A total of 14,476 doctors who completed their medical degrees abroad appeared for the screening test during the year 2012 out of which 3,150 candidates or 21.76 per cent qualified the test, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

As per information provided by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), which conducts the screening test, the government has received few representations regarding review of the existing system.

The screening test has been introduced in accordance with the Screening Test Regulations, 2002, notified by the Medical Council of India (MCI) in order to ascertain that citizens of India obtaining medical qualification from universities or medical institutions abroad have acquired adequate knowledge and skill as per norms of the MCI.

The Supreme Court in its judgment of Nov 16, 2004, has upheld screening test regulations as well as the scheme of examination.

As such, the government is not considering review of screening test at present, Azad said.