Allied Healthcare (GAHC)

The Indian government is acting swiftly to ensure the safety of its citizens and students in Tehran. In a significant move, over 100 students were moved out of Tehran in the last 48 hours. Many of them are said to have already crossed the Iran-Armenia border and are preparing to return home. This order was passed due to the increasing security threat because of the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The government has also advised its self-sufficient citizens in Tehran to leave the city.

The Embassy of India in Tehran, in close coordination with Iranian authorities, has helped in shifting the students of high-risk areas of Tehran to safer cities like Qom that are approximately 150km. Qom, with its religious significance and relative safety, has become a temporary refuge of around 600 Indian students. On the other side, 110 students (including many medical students of Kashmir and other Indian states) who crossed over the border to the Armenian side will soon take a flight to Delhi.

As per the Indian officials, There were 10,000 Indian nationals in Iran of which 6000 were Indian students when the clash happened. The government of India said, "The embassy remains continuously in touch with the community with a view to extending all feasible assistance. Further advisories may be issued given the fluid situation."

To guide the process, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has established a 24/7 control room in New Delhi to keep track of the situation and make evacuation arrangements. The embassy is also making advisories requesting all Indian nationals in Tehran to relocate to safer grounds at their own means where possible, and stay in contact with the embassy officials further to assist them.

Tehran air evacuation was impossible since the Iranian airspace had been closed as a result of the conflict. Consequently, the Indian government decided to use the land route through Armenia, the country bordering Iran and has good relations with India. They have taken this path as a preferred method of safe escape, similar to land evacuation during the Ukrainian evacuations in the mission called Operation Ganga.

Indian students in Tehran reported being in fear and in most cases forced to stay in the basements with little communication because of poor internet connection. Mehreen Zaffar, a medical student living in Tehran told the news agency PTI in a voice full of fear, “We are scared. We have been calling for help but nothing is happening.” She also said, “Iran is on black alert. We don’t know what is happening.” Mahreen then described how they had to be in the basement with no communication. 

Mahreen is one of those 70 students stuck in the warzone waiting to be rescued. For these students, the Indian embassy and the Indian government  are the only hope that can help them return home safely. “We have full hopes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” She further said. 

Huzaif Malik, a student far from the warzone in Urmia said, “we were in Urmia which was relatively safe. We have reached Armenia.” Another student named Faizan Nabi from Kerman University of Medical Sciences said, “The situation is not bad here as in Tehran. But there is still fear and we are hoping that we will be relocated soon.” 

As per the report received from Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association, the students have safely reached Yerevan which is Armenia’s capital city.

There have been numerous reports of relief at being relocated to safer areas but calls of an outright evacuation back to India remain. The situation is still strained and parents in India are waiting desperately to hear about the safety of their children.

Almost 100 foreign medical graduates (FMGs) in Rajasthan have an uncertain future since their compulsory internships at ESIC Medical College, Alwar stand paralysed due to stipend dispute, and insufficient internships seat issue. These aspiring doctors are in a dilemma regarding their eligibility of medical practice and continuation of higher studies in India due to this crisis.

The main issue is a conflict of rules and bureaucracies. The Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC) assigned internship posts to Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) five months ago after the results of Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) were announced. But since they missed the June 15 deadline of joining they have not yet been allowed to start their clinical work yet their colleagues across other institutions are already serving in hospitals.

The Supreme Court has required every FMG to be stipend but National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines permit only 7.5% of the entire seats to be paid internships. Dr Asim Das, Dean of ESIC Hospital raised a question referring to this that, "This is a govt organisation where we are answerable for the audit. So, how do we differentiate the payment of the stipend? The Rajasthan government is saying give a stipend to 7.5% of FMG’s, but the question is which 7.5% out of the 100 FMG’S.” 

Das also stated that the number of internship seats in the ESIC Medical College is just 100 and the same number of Indian medical graduates are also competing to get these internship seats. This will lead to the direct conflict between 100 FMGs and 100 Indian medical graduates for 100 seats, as the competition of scarcely available opportunities is getting increasingly high.

According to FMGs, neither ESIC nor the RMC and the medical education department are considering their applications and thus they are moving around seeking solutions from one pillar to post.

The delay going on in Rajasthan’s Medical College could have severe consequences for these FMGs. Their chances of being registered to work in medicine, carry post graduate studies and being employed altogether will be delayed unless they have timely internships. Most affected graduates have shown distress and stated that urgent solutions should be given by the state to find a way forward as this stipend dispute needs to end.

This situation at Medical College in Rajasthan is underscoring the dire necessity of transparent and uniform rules about FMG internships and stipend allocation. Other medical experts and student organizations are pressuring the Rajasthan government, RMC and the ESIC Medical College so that the FMGs are not subjected to unequal treatments. This problem needs to be urgently settled not only because of the careers of these young doctors but also due to the healthcare system of the state, which also relies on the continuous supply of trained specialists.

In a key move to improve academic and administrative surveillance in medical education, the government of Andhra Pradesh has reconstituted the Executive Council of Dr NTR University of Health Sciences. The council has eight experienced medical practitioners and academicians now, with the appointments getting formal approval from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

The new additions are well-known names in the state's medical and educational fraternity. They include Dr G Subba Rao, ex-Principal of GMC Guntur, and Dr M Vishunu Mahesh Babu, erstwhile Professor of Anaesthesia in Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada. They are joined by Dr K Madhavi, Professor of Gynaecology in SVIMS Tirupati, and Dr Surapaneni Suresh Babu, Professor of Orthopaedics in Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada.

Also among the recruits are Dr M Jaichandra Naidu, Professor of Radiology at MIMS Vizianagaram; paediatrician Dr Chapara Sudhakar from Amadalavalasa; General Medicine doctor Dr TD Varun Kumar Reddy from Proddatur; and paediatrician Dr Y Sai Kishore based in Vijayawada.

In order to facilitate smooth policy implementation and coordination between departments, five ex-officio members shall also be included in the council. They are the Special Chief Secretary (Health), the Finance Secretary, the Director of Medical Education, the Commissioner of AYUSH, and the Director of Health.

The officials said that the reconstitution is intended to infuse a more academic bent of mind into the decision-making process of the university and ensure better coordination between health education and public healthcare delivery.

Through this heterogeneous and experienced team, we hope that there will be more convergence between medical academia and healthcare policy in the state," commented a Health Department senior official.

The reorganized council will have a significant role to play in formulating curriculum reforms, enhancing infrastructure, and intensifying research in medical institutions associated with the university — making Andhra Pradesh a progressive center for medical education and public health.

First off, Congratulations on clearing NEET!   It is not an easy task to clear NEET(UG) 2025 and you deserve all the happiness you feel. However, when the thrill of the moment is over, one question that may be on your mind is: “Now what?” Fear not, you are not the first to be foundering around and trying to make the right decision with regard to your medical career - thousands of Indian students are already in this situation. This is the fact-checked, practical guide to your top 5 options after clearing NEET.

1. Take Part in NEET Counselling and Bag your Place

The official counselling process is the first step after passing the NEET. All India Quota (AIQ) seats are centralised and counselled by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), with each state having their own state quota counselling process. Ensure you:

• Sign up on the MCC or state official site.
• Have your documents at hand (scorecard, admit card, ID proof etc.).
• Investigate colleges and courses on the basis of your ranking and preferences.

P.S.: When the time to fill comes, during the counselling, fill as many options as possible to give yourself a chance of winning a good seat.

2. Know about MBBS and BDS in India

Undoubtedly, the most common path is to study MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) or BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) in a government or a private college. With your NEET score you can:

• Apply to some of the top government and private colleges in India in MBBS/BDS courses. 
• Flight to quota states provided you are able to qualify since it will have cut-offs.
• Explore think centrals such as AIIMS and JIPMER which according to NEET are deemed universities and take students on ET.

3. Take into consideration Allied Medical Courses or paramedical courses 

In case MBBS or BDS is not your first preference or you wish to take advanced degree courses in other related areas of medicine, then there are a number of associated health science courses that you can avail as per the NEET score:

• BAMS (Ayurveda)
• BHMS (Homeopathy)
• BUMS (Unani)
• BPT (Physiotherapy)
• B.Sc. Nursing
• B.V.Sc. &A.H (Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry)

If you are interested in paramedical courses, here are some trending options you can opt for: 

• Anesthesia Technology
• Operation Theatre (OT) Technology
• Dialysis Technology
• Emergency & Trauma Care

The courses are quite marketable and promising to the students as far as careers in the government and private sector of work are concerned.

4. See Medical Education Abroad

MBBS programs in countries like Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Philippines and China are also available to the NEET-testers. What you need to know is as follows:

• Make sure that the college is enlisted by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
• Inquire about the teaching language and living costs.
• And be ready to pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in India after you finish your degree.

5. Future specializations planning and exams plan 

It is an excellent time to get into long-term thinking. When you have a special interest in a certain field of medicine (say cardiology, pediatrics or surgery), begin to research the areas of super-specialized training into which you can go once you have your MBBS (like MD/MS). 

In case you also wish to study or work in a foreign country, qualifying NEET is great. However, you might also need to take MCAT. Remember, there are competitive exams like FMGE, USMLE (US) and PLAB (UK) that are needed after completing MBBS if you wish to practice medicine abroad. .

Additionally, go to workshops/ webinars and conferences, creating networks and getting to know about new areas in medicine.

Remember, passing NEET(UG) 2025 has opened the door to oceans of possibilities. You may wish to be a doctor and dentist or want to pursue a career in allied medical sciences, the most important thing is to be informed, to plan, and to make such a decision that will enable you to pursue the career based on your passion and strength. It is only the beginning of your medical journey, so do not be afraid and go with what you like!

The Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal will reopen its healthcare services, including emergency operations, from the 16th of June 2025.

This follows a period of temporary closure following widespread flooding across the entire campus, which began on 2nd June 2025. The institution has made provision for the work to continue to rejuvenate all the services in full, with normal surgeries to resume soon thereafter.

Apart from health care services, educational activity in JNIMS will likewise resume on the 16th of June 2025. The reopening will include regular classes for undergraduate students pursuing MBBS and BDS courses, in addition to postgraduate trainees. The management has confirmed these details as part of the measures aimed at normalizing activities in the institute.

The flooding, which saw the entire JNIMS campus affected, led to the temporary shutdown of both health and academic services. All the staff, students, and stakeholders who have made tremendous efforts to facilitate the recovery process during this hard time have been appreciated by the administration.

Routine operations, or Routine OT, will also be resumed as restoration makes progress. This is all part of a larger plan to get all healthcare activities back to normal as soon as possible so that the community may resume receiving the medical attention it relies on.

JNIMS is crucial for providing both medical treatment and medical education to the state. The resumption of activities is a significant step to re-initiate normal operations and retain the institute as a significant Manipur healthcare facilitator. The management remains focused on quality healthcare and education.

With the institute to reopen, the resumption of activities is an affirmation of the strength and determination of the JNIMS community. The management expressed appreciation for the effort of oneness, which has contributed much to overcoming the disruption caused by the flooding.

Postgraduate intern doctors at Dr Patnam Mahender Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences (PMRIMS) in Chevella, Telangana, staged a strike on Monday, June 9, for the release of outstanding stipend.

For the last few months, the students have been requesting the college administration to disburse the pending stipends, regularize the stipend payment on monthly basis, and hike the stipend amount at par with the government medical colleges under the Government Order (GO) 59, according to a report by The New Indian Express.

Disturbed by repeated pleas and representation to the college administration regarding the outstanding dues, the students of medicine decided on a strike in the campus of the college.

The second year PG students' stipend was pending since September and the first year batch that joined three months ago was also not paid, the students said.

The problem continued to worsen as the students who were facing difficulties with a paltry stipend amount of Rs.10,000 from the very first year asked that the stipend be hiked because it was not possible to meet the expenditure, the college administration rejected the requests and insisted on remaining at the payment amount.

A second-year PG student, Dr Mohammed Ismail, in an interview with The New Indian Express, said, "We have been requesting the college authorities since the first year to hike the stipend. Though we managed somehow with the paltry amount of Rs.10,000, we requested that they should hike the stipend according to the Go 59, but nothing happened. Also, none of the college authorities are taking responsibility for the matter and washing hands instead of hearing our grievances. We are assigned to work for extended shifts, but not being paid for the same."

According to GO 59 issued by the state government in the year 2023 for the government medical colleges in the state, the PG first year students will be paid a stipend amount of 58,289 and the second year students Rs 61,528.

Similarly, the students at PMRIMS also asked for an increase in the stipend. But the administration was not willing to hike the stipend to even Rs 15000 or Rs 20,000, and they were left hanging.

Students informed that the college administration had a policy of crediting Rs 50,000 to the students' bank accounts to record that the stipend was credited, and then compelled them to return Rs 40,000, retaining with them only Rs 10,000, as per the report by The New Indian Express.

Furthermore, when the first-year students of the new batch requested for release of three months pending dues, the college administration asked the parents to deposit a total amount of six lakhs to the college, which could be made payable as a stipend to the students.

Another first year student informed, "We have been paying the fee on time and have been working sincerely in the long duty hours. We are claiming the stipend, which is our due, but the college authorities instead requested our parents to deposit more money, which could have been utilized to pay our stipends, which is definitely unjust."

Students claimed that they tried to meet the authorities several times during the last one month but in vain, after which they informed the authorities of announcing a strike three days ago, prior to finally sitting in protest on June 9, Monday. They organized an indefinite strike unless and until the college addressed their demands.

When The New Indian Express contacted college authorities, they declined to provide a comment on the matter.