The Health Ministry building in Beirut. (Credit: NNA)
Lebanese doctors who graduated abroad, along with the Lebanese Association of Parents of Students Enrolled in Foreign Universities, held a sit-in Thursday outside the Education Ministry in Beirut to protest the introduction of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as a new requirement for obtaining a license to practice medicine, according to the state-run National News Agency. The protest could also extend to the Health Ministry.
The demonstration follows a similar sit-in Monday by graduates of foreign universities and their families to denounce the decision to add the practical clinical skills exam to the licensing process.
According to local media, protesters say the new requirement was imposed retroactively and are calling for it to be scrapped. They argue that graduates should not face additional conditions after completing the licensing exams that were previously required. They also called on authorities to respect announced examination rules and administrative procedures.
Representatives of the protesters said they received assurances from the Education and Health ministries that the issue would be reviewed and efforts made to find a solution in favor of young doctors.
