Recent stories of Indian medical students fleeing Tehran amid unrest have spotlighted a growing crisis. Over 100,000 Indian students now study medicine abroad, driven by a system where 23 lakh NEET aspirants compete for just around 1.18 lakh medical seats.
Private medical colleges in India charge ₹50 lakh–₹1 crore, forcing many families to seek cheaper degrees in countries like Iran and Ukraine. But what they often find is poor training, language barriers, and low pass rates on licensing exams—turning dreams into nightmares. It’s not just about access to education—it’s about a system rigged to fail the public.
The Crisis, in Plain Sight
In cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, NEET coaching centers overflow with hopeful students. Yet, only 1.18 lakh medical seats are available nationwide for over 23 lakh aspirants (2024).
While India has nearly doubled its medical seats in recent years and plans to add another 75,000 over the next five years, demand continues to outpace supply. Worse, these seats are concentrated in urban centers and certain states—leaving rural and underprivileged communities marginalized.
The Cost of Becoming a Doctor
Private medical colleges remain unaffordable for most middle-class families. In their desperation, many turn to agents promising MBBS degrees abroad for ₹30–50 lakh in countries like Iran, Ukraine, and Georgia.
But many of these programs suffer from outdated labs, minimal clinical exposure, and degrees that are not recognized by India’s National Medical Commission (NMC)—trapping students in cycles of debt and disappointment.
Someone Profits, Someone Pays
To fund these degrees, families often sell land, pawn heirlooms, or take on crippling loans. Meanwhile, agents and low-quality colleges profit from this desperation.
The Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE)—soon to be replaced by the National Exit Test (NExT)—is mandatory to practice medicine in India. In 2024, only 20% of candidates passed: just 20,383 out of 79,328.
Those who fail return with heavy debts and limited options, while the agents walk away unaccountable.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
- NEET aspirants (2024): 23 lakh
- Medical seats (2024–25): ~1.18 lakh
- Planned seat expansion: 75,000 (over five years)
- Students abroad: 100,000+
- FMGE pass rate (2024): 20%
Medical education access:
- Government: 54%
- Affordable private: 4%
- High-cost private: 42%
Despite expansions, the middle class is still left behind—pushed toward risky, foreign options.
Not Just a Seat Shortage—A Systemic Failure
The National Medical Commission (NMC) Act was passed in 2019 to improve access and quality. FMGE became mandatory in 2021, exposing how many foreign programs don’t meet Indian standards.
A Deliberate Policy Failure
Private colleges charge exorbitantly. Public seat expansion is too slow. Meanwhile, foreign agents exploit this void—leaving students vulnerable to financial ruin, academic uncertainty, and mental health challenges.
The system was not built to be fair—it was built to profit.
What India Needs
To address this crisis, India must treat medical education as essential infrastructure:
- Expand affordable government medical seats, especially in underserved areas.
- Strictly regulate education agents through transparent oversight and penalties.
- Issue clear NMC guidelines on recognized medical colleges, domestic and foreign.
- Support students preparing for FMGE/NExT and encourage alternative healthcare careers.
- Offer financial aid and subsidized loans to ease the burden on families.
- Launch national awareness campaigns on the risks of studying medicine abroad.
Until these deeper structural issues are addressed, becoming a doctor will remain a high-stakes gamble—and for many families, a devastating one.
