Indian gov't deploys senior medical students to help fight COVID-19

NEW DELHI -- The Indian government on Monday allowed medical students studying in the fifth year of the MBBS course to be deployed in COVID-19 management duties under the supervision of their faculty.

The federal government also decided that such medical personnel completing 100 days of COVID-19 duties will be given priority in forthcoming regular government recruitments.

Such medical students can be utilized for tele-consultation and monitoring of mild COVID-19 cases under the supervision of faculty. Qualified nurses would be utilized in full-time nursing duties under the supervision of senior doctors and nurses.

The decisions were taken at a key meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting reviewed the growing need for adequate human resources for responding to the COVID-19 resurgence in the country.

It was also decided to postpone the medical entrance examination, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for at least four months. The examination will not be held before Aug 31.