No local practicals for Ukraine students

Indian students on their way to Poltava from Sumy. File pic

Around 23,000 Indian medical students who returned from Ukraine, were relieved that their colleges allowed them to attend classes online, but they are worried about practical training. Both the Kharkiv National Medical University and the Kharkiv International Medical University have asked governments of other countries where they hailed from, to allow students to work in local, private, government hospitals for this. But these students say they are not being allowed to do so.

The students told mid-day that online studies are not possible for them as their studies have to be practical. In Ukraine they said they dealt with operations, treatments and diagnosed patients every day.

In Ukraine students said they dealt with operations, treatments and diagnosed patients every day. File pic

Speaking to mid-day, one of the students, Mohammad Farhan Kazim Shaikh from Ghatkopar said, "My online classes started last Monday but I am facing many difficulties. I am in the 4th year of MBBS and need practical work more than online studies. We tried to get practical work experience in many government hospitals but not a single hospital allowed us. Now some of us are looking for private hospitals which could help us, but there we might get chances only for observation."

Another student, Yuvraj Zala from Thane said, "Me and my entire batch are waiting for online classes. I am in 4th year of MBBS and some of our teachers who have moved to Poland said they are arranging offline studies for us in coming months. I tried to get practical training in many government hospitals, but didn't get the opportunity to do so. I hope the war stops soon and we can go back to Ukraine to complete our studies."

Mohammad Farhan Kazim Shaikh also has difficulties in online classes

Around 40% of the students who returned have started attending online classes. But there are also some glitches in these for some. Mohammad Faisal, another student, said, "Poland and India have 3-4 hours difference so timings don't match. Also, some of our teachers are in shock and not comfortable teaching. They are only taking online lectures to complete our remaining studies. But we should also get practical knowledge which is very important. Otherwise how will we work in hospitals?"

Excerpt of a letter from the Kharkiv National Medical University

The Kharkiv National Medical University informs you that foreign students of all countries have classes online and don't have opportunity to take part in practical work due to the situation in Ukraine. So we ask local government officials to allow all students to go through practical work in local, private, government hospitals as depends on the student's course, in their country.

The report on the practical training in the homeland, should be drawn up on the form of the medical institution that enrolls the students, to indicate the amount of acquired practical skills, signed by a doctor, head of practice.