196 Medical Alumni of FK UISU Demand Clarity on Doctor Competency Exam Registration

Hundreds of prospective doctors who graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the Islamic University of North Sumatra (FK UISU) descended on their campus on Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Medan, on Monday (23 February), demanding clarity after being informed they could not be registered for the National Competency Examination for Professional Medical Programme Students (UKMPPD).

One alumna, Mika Wirdani, said 196 graduates classified as retakers — those resitting the examination — now face being dropped out. This is despite having completed every stage of their education, from their undergraduate medical degree through to clinical clerkship (koas).

According to Mika, the problem arose after administration of the competency examination was taken over by an ad-hoc team involving the medical collegium and the Directorate General of Higher Education (Dikti). She said there had been no socialisation or written provision stating that students whose period of study exceeded five years would be barred from sitting the exam.

“The examination is now managed by the ad-hoc team involving the collegium and Dikti. But there is no written requirement about a study period exceeding five years,” Mika said.

She explained that the committee’s stated requirements were only proof of active status in the Higher Education Database (PDDikti) and a certificate of completion of clinical clerkship. According to her, almost all FK UISU retakers had met these conditions.

“We meet the requirements. We are all active in PDDikti and have completed our clinical clerkship,” she said.

Mika stressed that the competency examination is the final stage for determining fitness to practise as a doctor, not part of the academic study period.

“Competency is different from academic education. This is solely to determine our fitness to practise as doctors,” she said.

Mika questioned why the university had not registered them, whilst a number of other institutions continued to send retakers to sit the national examination. She said alumni had even prepared comparative evidence to prove this.

“Why doesn’t UISU dare to register us? If we are not registered, 196 alumni face being dropped out. Meanwhile, we know the President is always calling for more doctors,” she said.

Another alumna, Ika Puspita Daulay, said she had sat the competency examination up to 22 times since completing her clinical clerkship in 2015. She said she had passed the OSCE (practical examination) but repeatedly failed the Computer Based Test (CBT).

“I took the second period, in May. I sat in May, and I passed the OSCE. I passed the OSCE on my first attempt. The problem is the CBT — I have failed 22 times,” she said.

She stressed that the retakers had all completed the five-year education programme as required. Ika also highlighted the costs incurred during their education and repeated examinations. She estimated the total expenditure could exceed Rp1 billion per person, not including additional costs such as panel examinations and preparatory courses outside the region.

“We all completed five years; we are only held up by the competency exam. We are simply asking to be registered. We are not asking for anything else,” she said.

In response, the Dean of FK UISU, Dr Dr Mayang Sari Ayu, said the faculty had not been sitting idle. She said the faculty had been seeking clarity by communicating with various parties, including deans of other medical faculties and the relevant ministry.

“We have been trying to find out why some faculties have registered their students,” she said.

She said she had communicated with several deans of other medical faculties and attended a meeting with the ministry on 5 February 2026 to discuss the possibility of registering retakers.

“It is not that we have not been trying. These are our students, our younger colleagues,” she said.

According to Mayang, the decision does not rest solely with the faculty as it involves national regulations and ministerial policy. She affirmed that her side would continue to seek the best solution.

“These students are part of us. We will continue to seek the best solution,” she said.

By the afternoon, the alumni were still awaiting confirmation as to whether their names would be registered before the system’s registration deadline closed. They declared their readiness to report the matter to the mayor or governor if no clarity was forthcoming.