Thousands of Indian medical students were forced to leave Ukraine after Russia launched its military offensive on February 26, 2022

In a huge relief to medical students from India, Ukraine has decided to allow foreign students to take the Unified State Qualification Exam in their country of domicile. Medical students need to take the exam to be eligible for a medical licence.

The matter was discussed during talks between First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova and Secretary (West) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Sanjay Verma in New Delhi on Tuesday. The Ukrainian Minister is on her first official visit to India.

“On the issue of Indian medical students, the Deputy FM mentioned that Ukraine will allow foreign medical students to take the Unified State Qualification Exam in their country of domicile,” the MEA said. The move will benefit the thousands of Indian medical students who were forced to leave Ukraine after Russia launched its military offensive on February 26, 2022.

Dzhaparova also met with Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi, where they discussed a wide range of bilateral and international issues of mutual interest. According to the MEA, the Ukrainian Deputy FM handed over a letter from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting additional humanitarian supplies, including medicines and medical equipment.

The MEA said that during her talks with Verma, the Ukrainian minister also proposed that rebuilding infrastructure in Ukraine could be an opportunity for Indian companies. The Secretary (West) shared that India has provided medicines, medical equipment and would provide school buses to Ukraine.

The discussions on the issue of medicines and medical equipment demonstrate the pressing need for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, which has been severely affected by the ongoing conflict in the region.

India has been providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the onset of the conflict in the region. The provision of medicines and medical equipment has been a key part of India's assistance to Ukraine, and the country has been actively working to support the healthcare system in Ukraine. The visit is expected to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries in the field of healthcare.

Dzhaparova's visit to India is also expected to facilitate cooperation between the two countries in the field of defence. During her visit, she visited the Manohar Parrikar - Institute of Defense Studies and delivered a talk at the Indian Council of World Affairs. The discussions focused on the importance of building a strong and resilient defence partnership between the two countries.