National Exit Test NEXT

National Exit Test (NEXT)
The National Exit Test NEXT is the manifestation of a universally applicable dogma – there can be no compromise with quality standards in the medical profession.

Apparently, corruption was becoming rampant in the 88 years old Medical Council of India MCI. There seemed to be ample evidence that the officials were earning illegitimately at various levels in a nexus with political leaders. Also, there was a lack of uniformity in the process of adding new members to the medical fraternity. In short, while the foreign medical graduates had to undergo the MCI Screening Test, the doctors from Indian Medical Universities were exempt.

Also, it was a common realization that the quality of medical education across the globe had a lot of variations. Then, significant differences existed between the quality of education in government & private institutes. There were major surveys indicating this. Moreover, there was no quality check to assess a substantial section of the medical workforce entering into the Indian healthcare industry.

After much deliberation by the GOI, the National Medical Commission Bill came into force on September 25, 2020. It caused the dissolution of the MCI and the constitution of the National Medical Commission in its place. And a very consequential step that the NMC took was the replacement of the MCI Screening Test with the National Exit Test NEXT.