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US Medical Courses 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 complete their studies and the best students can get employment here. Foreign students who complete post graduation are given an opportunity to work for one year. Foreign students also get a work visa along with jobs in American companies. However, if a student has studied in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), then he gets the option of working for one year under OPT. Along with this, he 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 there is a provision in the OPT rules not to give extension to medical students. Now gradually the demand for giving extension to medical students has also 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 giving STEM-OPT status to students pursuing MD (Doctor of Medicine) and DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) courses, 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 currently 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 medical studies in America is given, then a large number of Indian students can come here. The salary of doctors in America is also very high, due to which it will become a hub for medical studies.
How many students will benefit from STEM-OPT in medical courses?
In 2022, about 400 foreign students took admission in MD and DO courses, who can get the benefit of 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 give admission to foreign students. This includes top institutions like Harvard University, John Hopkins Medical School. However, this number is going to increase after STEM-OPT, in which Indian students can also join.
What is the condition of doctors in America?
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, by 2036, America will 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 i.e. 2.62 lakh are immigrants. The number of Indian doctors in America is more 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.