The protesting medical students, raising posters calling for national health not to be sacrificed by the undesirable decision by the Ministry of Examination, gathered at the Liberty Square of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and then walked to the Control Yuan asking the watchdog body to do justice for students of local medical universities and colleges.

At the qualification screening meeting held on July 9, the Ministry of Examination decided to prohibit a total of 35 people who just graduated from the medical schools in Poland this year or who have yet to take examinations for doctors and dentists from taking national doctoral examinations.

But just six days later, the Ministry of Examination reversed its earlier decision, allowing the 35 to take national examinations, but requiring them to complete a one-year internship at a major medical center before obtaining the certification for passing the national doctoral examinations.

Liou Lin-wei, vice chairman of the Federation of Medical Students in Taiwan, suspected Minister of Examination Yang Chao-hsiang of bowing to pressure from parents of Taiwanese graduates from Polish medical schools, as most of the parents are ranking government officials or heavyweights of political parties.

Lin said that based on Article 4-1 of the Doctors Law, Taiwan's graduates from medical universities are required to complete a one-year internship at a major medical center with acceptable performance to become qualified for joining national doctoral examinations.

Accordingly, Lin stressed that the Ministry of Examination's July 15 decision has violated the Doctors Law, and the Control Yuan should move to investigate the possible irregularities involving the case.

In response, the education committee of the Control Yuan yesterday designated members Yin Zha-chien and Chien Lin Hui-chun of the Control Yuan to take charge of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Tung Pao-cheng, vice minister of examination, denied his ministry's alleged bowing to pressure from ranking officials, adding that the ministry would be fully cooperative during the process of investigation by the Control Yuan.