National Medical Commission announces major update for foreign graduates

NMC Foreign medical graduates are facing difficulty in getting themselves registered with some state medical councils amid the ongoing evacuation of Indians from Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, an official notification said. The NMC reiterated that the provisions contained in the FMGL Regulations, 2021 will not be applicable if the graduates have acquired a foreign medical degree or primary qualification before November 18, 2021. In addition, candidates who have attended their undergraduate medical education abroad institutes before November 18 will also be included in this category.

To secure registration to practice Medicine In India, students pursuing medicine abroad are required to do a dual internship – in a country where they obtained MBBS and then in India as per the NMC (Foreign Medical Graduate Licensee) Regulations, 2021.

“Given the agony and stress faced by these foreign medical graduates, their applications are considered eligible to complete the remaining part of the internship in India. Accordingly, it may be processed by the State Medical Councils, provided the candidates have cleared FMGE before applying for completion of internship in India,” the NMC said.

NMC issued a detailed guideline for the State Medical Councils while processing the matter of grant of registration of FMGs:

1. The medical qualification/degree must be registered in its respective jurisdiction of the country in which the medical degree is awarded and must be equivalent to the license to practice medicine granted to a citizen of that country.

2. Documentary evidence certifying successful completion of physical training or internship during medical qualification equivalent to MBBS if conducted in a foreign institution.

3. Copy of Passport with Visa and Immigration Details

4. Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) must be passed by the candidates wishing to register in India.

5. If the candidate is found fulfilling all the above criteria, provisional registration may be granted by the State Medical Councils for an internship of 12 months or for the remaining period.

6. Internship shall be permitted in Medical College Hospital or Hospital attached to Medical Colleges as permitted by the Commission.

7. The maximum quota for allotment of internship to FMG should be limited to 7.5% in addition to the total permitted seats in the Medical College.

8. The State Medical Councils should obtain an undertaking from the Medical College that no amount/fee is charged by the Medical College from the FMG for allowing them to do internship. The stipend and other facilities to FMGs should be increased at par with Indian Medical graduates being trained in Government Medical Colleges, as prescribed by the Institute/University or appropriate authority applicable to the State.

The NMC said that the state medical councils should obtain an undertaking from the medical college that no fee is charged from foreign medical graduates (FMGs) for allowing them to do internships.

“The stipend and other facilities to the FMG should be increased at par with Indian medical graduates being trained in government medical colleges, as decided by the appropriate authority,” it said.