NMC Allows Foreign Medical Graduates to Complete Internship in India

The National Medical Commission has allowed foreign students with incomplete internships to apply for internship in India amid various ongoing situations such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic However, the Commission has also made it clear that the candidates must clear the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) before they can take up an internship in India.

The NMC made the decision considering other factors such as the stress and agony that foreign medical students are going through. 

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The Commission has also requested the State Medical Councils to allow those with incomplete internships to clear the FMGE before applying for the internship in India. It has also issued detailed guidelines on how to register foreign medical graduates. These guidelines will be followed by the State Medical Councils. Additionally, the Commission has issued specific conditions that the State Medical Councils should follow while processing the registrations of foreign medical graduates.

The Commission also clarified that the provisions of the Foreign Medical Graduates (Regulations) 2021 will not be applicable if the following conditions are not met:

• Students who have obtained a foreign medical degree or a primary qualification before November 18, 2021, will be included in the FMG category.

• Students who have already joined their undergraduate studies in a foreign institution prior to November 18, 2021, will also be included under this category.

• FMG who have been specifically exempted by the Indian government through official notification. 

The NMC has issued a set of guidelines for the registration of medical degrees and registrations of FMGs in various states.

• The medical degree or qualification awarded by an approved institution is required to be registrable to practice in a country where the medical degree was granted. The same should be at par with the license provided to citizens of the country.

• Documentary evidence of successful completion of a physical training or internship program is required to be submitted to the appropriate regulatory body.

• Before applying for registration in India, the candidate should bring his or their passport along with the necessary details.

• The NBE's foreign medical examination is also required for the registration of FMGs in India.

• If the candidate is found to be qualified, he or she may be granted provisional registration for a 12-month internship or a balance period.

• The internship is permitted in hospitals or medical colleges attached to medical colleges. The maximum quota for FMGs is restricted to 7.5% of the total seats in a medical college.

• State Medical Councils are required to get an undertaking from a medical college that no fees are charged for their internship.

• The stipend and other facilities of FMGs should be equivalent to those of Indian Medical Graduates who are trained in government medical colleges.

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Source: India Today