Amid violence and political turmoil in Bangladesh, more than 7,200 Indian students have returned to India in the last few weeks (till August 1). There are about 19,000 Indian citizens living in Bangladesh, of which more than 9,000 are Indian students. Many of the 9000 students are pursuing MBBS from there. But why do Indian students turn to this neighbouring country every year to study medicine? Every year in India, about 25 lakh students take the medical entrance exam NEET, out of which about 13 lakh are able to pass. But for these 13 lakh students who qualify NEET, there are only 1.10 lakh MBBS seats in the country. This situation is seen every year. Only those who get good ranks among the NEET pass students will be able to get affordable MBBS seats in government medical colleges. Due to very few MBBS seats in the country and the huge fees of private medical colleges, thousands of students dreaming of becoming doctors choose the option of pursuing MBBS from abroad. There are many who get MBBS seats in private medical colleges in the country but due to the hefty fees they have to go to countries like Bangladesh, Ukraine, Russia. These are the countries where the cost of MBBS is much cheaper than the private medical colleges in India.
It is possible to get admission in these countries with less NEET marks as compared to India. However, it is mandatory to pass NEET to pursue MBBS from abroad. One also has to obtain an eligibility certificate from the National Medical Commission (NMC). If the student does not do this, he will not be able to appear for the FMGE exam. Students who have completed MBBS from abroad have to appear for the FMGE exam to get a license to practice as a doctor in India.
Why Bangladesh is a preferred destination for MBBS
According to a Business Standard report, about 25 percent of medical college seats in the country are reserved for international students. This provision gives ample opportunities to Indian students. Apart from this, medical education in Bangladesh is much cheaper than in India. On affordable medical education, Akshay Chaturvedi, founder and CEO of Leverage.biz, said, “Indian students mainly go to Bangladesh to study medicine because studying there is much cheaper than private colleges in India and most of the institutes are recognized by WHO and MCI.”
These students are in shock even after scoring good marks in NEET, they are not able to take admission in MBBS in their own state due to change in rules
Cost of becoming a doctor: India vs Bangladesh
Government medical colleges in India usually charge nominal fees ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh per year. While private medical colleges charge fees between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 25 lakh per year depending on their reputation and facilities. In contrast, the total cost of pursuing MBBS in Bangladesh is around Rs 25 lakh. Due to affordable medical education, it has been an attractive option for students aspiring to become doctors.
More than 600 medical colleges in India offer MBBS but the competition remains stiff. In 2024, more than 23 lakh students appeared for the NEET UG exam, most of whom are eyeing around 50 thousand government medical college seats. Government institutions, known for their subsidized fees, have only 55,095 seats in 386 colleges, leaving about 42 students vying for each seat. 320 private medical colleges have 53,625 seats, but their sky-high fees put them out of reach of many deserving and eligible students.
Countries such as Russia, Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines also offer affordable options for medical education. The 15th Finance Commission reported a rise in the number of Indian students studying medicine abroad, rising from 3,438 in 2015 to 12,321 in 2019. The National Medical Commission of India recognises seven universities in Bangladesh. The World Health Organisation also recognises them for their quality standards.
