Ukraine: Medical students back in India left in the lurch
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Sooraj Kumar has returned to his hometown of Babuapur in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh with his family.
The 26-year-old was one of around 18,000 Indian medical students in Ukraine who were evacuated as the conflict broke out. Mr Kumar has been studying medicine in Uzhhorod for the past six years and would have graduated in three months.
Mr Kumar now faces an unclear future because he is unable to complete his education or gain admission to Indian colleges.
For thousands of young Indians, the goal of becoming a doctor begins in tiny towns and villages. However, applicants have consistently outnumbered the number of openings available at government-run colleges that are cheap. Only those with the financial means to pay exorbitant fees can attend private medical schools.
In 2021, more than 1.5 million students took qualifying exams for government colleges, but only about 6% were accepted.
According to the Public Health Foundation of India, a think tank, only one in every eleven candidates is accepted into medical colleges. The number had risen to one out of every 19 hopefuls last year.
Some argue that the government should enable Ukrainian students to enrol in local medical schools. The government has stated that it is investigating their situation.
However, it is critical to improving India’s existing infrastructure so that students have more options within the nation rather than needing to travel overseas.
The number of medical seats in Indian institutions has increased from roughly 52,000 to nearly 89,000 in the last seven years. This is a significant increase, yet it is still insufficient. India urgently requires additional medical experts, with only one doctor for every 1,500 people.
The administration wants to establish hospitals in districts, particularly in rural areas. Medical colleges would be attached to the improved district hospitals.
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