Lucknow: Countries like Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Nepal continue to attract MBBS aspirants from the state who fail to qualify for govt medical colleges and cannot afford Indian private colleges.The trend has been the same since 2021, when the National Medical Commission (NMC) brought the regulation that it will recognise medical degrees of those countries that allow medical graduates to practise in their respective nations.An aspirant will also have to appear in the NEET eligibility test if she or he wants to go abroad for medical education.According to education consultants, around 7,000-8,000 MBBS aspirants from UP go abroad each year for medical education. These aspirants are mostly from middle-class families. They opt to go abroad because of limited seats in govt colleges, which offer subsidised education, and exorbitant fee structures of private colleges ranging between Rs 60 lakh and Rs 1 crore.In contrast, MBBS education in Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan costs between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 35 lakh, including living expenses. Some students, particularly from the Shia Muslim community, also opt for Iran.“Students are opting for what is available and valid. Until 2021, 10 to 12 countries were available as options, but now only a few are left,” said Dr Ashish Mahendra, education consultant at Aryadhita Education.“Earlier, Ukraine was also an option, but after the Russian invasion, it is considered unsafe. However, war has not affected Russian universities,” said Dr Mahendra.Nepal has emerged as an option due to proximity and cultural familiarity, though limited seats and rising costs have constrained its appeal.There is also a section of aspirants from affluent families who go to the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Canada, as they can afford the cost of education ranging from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 4 crore in these countries.Admissions, however, in the medical institutions of these countries are through competitive tests such as UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) or MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), along with strong academic records and interviews. Candidates also must fulfil the requirement of appearing in NEET.Admissions for the 2026 academic session are expected to begin after mid-May. While eastern European universities generally do not charge application fees, consultancies collect a registration amount of Rs 20,000-Rs 25,000.Chief executive officer of Moksh Overseas Education Consultants, Dhananjay Shah, advised caution.“Students should verify recognition, course structure, internship provisions and licensing eligibility before taking admission. Even a minor lapse can create problems later,” he said.
