Request to modify university guidelines for internship.

We students of the medical rehabilitation fraternity (namely, Bachelors of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Prosthetics & Orthotics from different colleges under WBUHS make an urgent appeal to the Vice Chancellor, West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS) pertaining to:
Exemption of the internship programme (either wholly or partially) for the completion of the bachelors course.NO.MCI-23 (1)/2020/Med./201867. Memo no.5

Provision for internship for those students who are unable to reach the college premises due to various reasons such as lockdown in different parts of state/country or travel restrictions. https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/unlock-guidelines-for-northeast-india-states-assam-mizoram-manipur-nagaland-tripura-arunachal-pradesh-meghalaya6439418/

If possible to make provisions for completing internship through nearby NGOs and hospitals for students stuck in other states due to lockdown.
Postponing the entrance exams for PG courses (MPT, MOT and MPO) so that the students affected due to delayed internship may have an opportunity to appear for these common entrance tests.
The current situation of COVID-19 is no ordinary scenario and needs innovative and exemplary actions to tackle the issues faced by the students of medical community, all around the globe, pertaining to the completion of internship which is vital for course completion. The University Grants Commission has already issued guidelines and an advisory letter D.O.No.F.1-1/2020 according to which the University has authority to modify its programme as per its choice so that students such as us do not suffer or face an uncertain future. Already our university exams were delayed by several months (Memo No. : COE/UHS/3396/2019) which have cost us valuable time and now the pandemic has further worsened the situation. According to UGC letter No. F.1-1/2020 (UGC-TF-COVID-19 - Advisory) our grievances/concerns should be addressed by respective universities but there is no response on your behalf yet.
We hope that WBUHS like many others shall set an example for others as well by taking extraordinary action in these tough times and shows solidarity with its students and their future, especially the ones working in this medical rehabilitation field and committed to our patients and contributing to the society during this awful COVID-19 pandemic.

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