The Under Graduate Medical Education Board of the National Medical Council, on 7th December 2023, released an official notice addressing issues concerning Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) suspending the previous notice dated 22 November 20233.
- FMGs from Ukraine
a) FMGs who had a break in their final year
Foreign Medical Graduates who had a break in their final year and came back to India due to the COVID-19 Pandemic or war are required to undergo 1 year of mandatory clerkship in India to compensate for training deficiencies. The Indian Medical Institutes can charge a clerkship fee up to Rs. 5000/- per month.
b) FMGs who had a break in their penultimate year
Students who had a break in their penultimate year must complete 2 years of mandatory clinical clerkship in India. Indian Medical Institutes are liable to pay stipends to FMGs equivalent to Indian Medical Graduates.
- FMGs from Ukraine are now allowed to continue their graduation in Different Countries
Foreign Medical Graduates who were enrolled in the MBBS program before November 18, 2021, and have migrated from Ukraine due to the COVID-19 pandemic or conflict, are presently permitted to transfer to any country other than India to finalize their medical education. This authorization for migration is exclusively applicable to students who re-entered India on or before March 31, 2022.
- Recognition of BS Course
Students pursuing a BS Course in any foreign medical institute at the time of publishing of FMGL Regulation 2021, shall be governed based on the old Screening Test Regulation, 2002. However, such students are required to complete one year of an additional one-year internship as per CRMI Regulation, 2021.
- Internship of FMGs at Indian Institute
As per the new guidelines, Indian medical colleges have set aside 7.5% of seats for internship or clinical clerkships, as well as, 100% of seats are reserved for the same. However, the specified number of seats will decided by the State Medical Councils and State Directors of Medical Education.
- Issuance of Eligibility Criteria (EC) to FMGs
Students who are pursuing their medical education in any Foreign Medical Institute before the academic years 2018 & 2019 and didn’t qualify for NEET-UG 2018 or 2019 are now allowed to continue their medical courses in Foreign Medical Institutes, but, are required to receive an Eligibility Certificate from the National Medical Council under the Section 13 (4b) of the IMC Act, 1956.
For the Eligibility Certificate, students are required to submit their admission records from their pre-medical course as well as travel details. This is to be noted that, this is a one-time exemption for the students who left India in the academic year 2018 & 2019. Furthermore, it is important to note that these students are granted exemption from the NEET-UG 2018 and 2019 requirements, following the recent amendment dated August 1, 2018, to the Screening Test Regulations, 2002, and the eligibility criteria for admission to an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution as per the Regulation of 2002.
- Capping time limit to qualify FMG Examination
All Foreign Medical Graduates shall complete their internship within 10 years of joining their Foreign Medical Institutes to receive qualifications equivalent to the MBBS course in India.
These guidelines aim to help Foreign Medical Graduates understand and overcome various challenges in their education and practice in India. For all the details, students should check the official notice from the National Medical Council.
