CONTROL SYSTEM: The new test

A move by the Medical Council of India (MCI) to regulate practice in the country by students who obtain medical degrees abroad has met with resistance from the medical community.

From March 15 doctors who get their qualification from foreign universities will have to pass a screening test to be conducted by the National Board of Examinations on behalf of the MCI. Says Dr M. Sachdeva, secretary, MCI, "This practice is followed by most countries. We took it up since it is important that we control the quality of doctors coming into India."

Dr Sanjiv Malik, secretary-general of the Indian Medical Association, says that while the motive is admirable, the decision itself is not well planned. "Why not have a similar screening procedure for Indian graduates too?" he asks, noting that quality standards differ even among universities which have been recognised by MCI.

Officials at MCI say the main aim is to test doctors with degrees from Russia, Uzbekistan and some Central Asian countries. The quality of education there is questionable and admissions easy.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that this rule is only for graduates. "What about quality as far as specialisation is concerned?" asks Dr Tarun Sahni, senior consultant at Delhi's Apollo Indraprastha Hospital.

-Prerna Singh Bindra

OBITUARY

NAREN TAMHANE 1931-2002

The death of Naren Tamhane, 71, one of India's best wicketkeepers and cricket's genteel souls, is poignant, coming at a time when India is looking for a quality gloveman. Tamhane played in 21 Tests between 1954 and 1960 and was on the team that toured Pakistan for the first time in 1954. In 1958, keeping to Subhash Gupte against West Indies in Kanpur, he dropped the catch that would have given Gupte all 10 wickets. The spinner finished with 9-102. But Tamhane was part of India's win over Richie Benaud's Australians at the same venue a year later.

As selector, Tamhane served on the panel that picked a 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar to tour Pakistan. When asked what would happen if the prodigy failed, Tamhane sealed it for the schoolboy saying, "Gentlemen, Tendulkar does not fail."

-Sharda Ugra

Most Wanted VC

For an academic, Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia's resume includes some very unusual extra-curricular highlights. The vice-chancellor (VC) of Punjabi University in Patiala is wanted by the police in a string of criminal cases that include attempts to rape and murder.

Ahluwalia's troubles began a month ago when his benefactor Parkash Singh Badal, the Akali supremo, lost the chief ministership to the Congress' Amarinder Singh. Ahluwalia says he is being framed. There may be something to that. The bureaucrat had become VC thanks to his political connections. Now it seems he's paying the price. -Ramesh Vinayak

Taking Wing

HIGH FLIER: The ALH is a multi-role craft

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) plans to find private companies as partners in producing the advanced light helicopter (ALH), according to HAL Chairman N.R. Mohanty.

The Coast Guard and army have received their first ALH aircraft. The navy and air force will be next. Mohanty has also spoken of exporting the ALH. The price for the helicopter is likely to be around $6 million (Rs 28.8 crore) in the international market.

-Stephen David