Bhat Yasir
The rising cost of air travel and mounting logistical challenges have intensified the demand for a National Medical Council (NMC) examination centre in Kashmir.
Medical students and their families are urging authorities to address the issue, which they say imposes an unnecessary financial burden on aspirants pursuing their careers in medicine.
The NMC, which replaced the Medical Council of India in 2020 as the primary regulator for medical education and practice in India, conducts the mandatory Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) for students who have studied medicine abroad.
However, the lack of an exam centre in Kashmir forces these students to travel to Samba, Noida, or Amritsar—locations hundreds of kilometers away.
“Traveling to these centres adds a huge financial strain on students like me. The airfare is unaffordable, and then there’s the cost of staying in hotels and other expenses,” said Mehvish Ahmad, a medical graduate.
Parents have also expressed frustration over the issue. “Our children are already facing so many challenges to establish their careers. Adding the burden of traveling outside Kashmir for exams shows complete disregard for the difficulties we face,” said Farooq Shah, whose daughter will appear for the upcoming exam on January 12.
The issue of rising airfares has further aggravated the problem. Students argue that the skyrocketing ticket prices make travel to exam centres financially unsustainable for many families in the Valley, where unemployment and economic instability are already pressing issues.
“Why should students from Kashmir bear extra expenses when a simple solution would be to establish an exam centre here?” questioned Uzma Nazir, another aspirant. She added, “A centre in Srinagar would allow us to focus on our exams instead of worrying about logistics and expenses.”
A senior official from the Health and Medical Education Department, speaking on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged the issue.
“We are aware of the demand and will raise the matter with the relevant authorities,” the official said.
With less than ten days remaining until the examination, students and parents are hopeful that their voices will prompt action.
“This is not just about convenience; it’s about fairness and accessibility. Every student deserves an equal chance to succeed,” Farooq Shah emphasized.
As the chorus for a local exam centre grows louder, the question remains whether the authorities will act in time to address the concerns of Kashmir’s medical community.