Good news for Indians studying medicine in America! They may get 3 more years

US Medical Curriculum OPT: Students studying in American universities have the option of ‘Optional Practical Training’ (OPT) after completing their studies. OPT was started so that foreign students get training as soon as they finish their studies and the best students can be employed here. Foreign students who complete post-graduation studies are given an opportunity to work for one year. Foreign students get work visas along with jobs in American companies. However, if a student has studied in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), then he/she gets the option of working for one year under OPT. Along with this, he/she also gets an extension of two years. In this way, through OPT, students are able to work in America for three years. But the problem here is that in the OPT rules, there is a provision of not giving extension to medical students. Now gradually the demand for giving extension to medical students has started rising.

Demand to include MD and DO studies in STEM-OPT

The non-profit public policy organization Niskanen Center has demanded that medical graduates should also be included in the STEM-OPT program. During a meeting with the concerned administrative officials in the US, Cecilia Esterline, Immigration Research Analyst at the Niskanen Center, has advocated for students studying MD (Doctor of Medicine) and DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) courses to also be given STEM-OPT status, so that they can also get a two-year extension.

How will Indian medical students benefit from STEM-OPT?

If the American authorities accept the demand of the Niskanen Center, then medical students of India will benefit from it. This is because at present, many students go abroad to study if they do not get admission in medical courses in India. However, if the option of working for three years after studying medicine in America is given, then a large number of Indian students can come here. The salary of doctors in America is also very high, which will make it a hub for medical studies.

How many students will benefit from STEM-OPT in medical courses now?

In 2022, around 400 foreign students took admission in MD and DO courses, who can benefit from STEM-OPT. These are also the top medical talents of the country. The reason for such low admissions is that there are only 50 medical colleges in the US that admit foreign students. This includes top institutions like Harvard University, John Hopkins Medical School. However, after STEM-OPT, this number is going to increase, in which Indian students can also be included.

What is the condition of doctors in America?

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, by 2036, America will have to face a shortage of 86 thousand doctors. Currently, most of the doctors in America are immigrants. According to the data of 2021, the number of doctors in America is 9.87 lakh, out of which 26.5 percent or 2.62 lakh are immigrants. The number of Indian doctors in America is higher than any other country in the world. There are 59 thousand Indian doctors in America, which is 22 percent of the total number of immigrant doctors.