FMG: NMC Reduces Internship Requirement For Foreign Medical Graduates To One Year

Students who completed sufficient physical onsite classes instead of online classes and have cleared the equivalent MBBS screening test will be eligible for a one-year mandatory internship.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has made an important announcement for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) in India. After initially deciding not to accept compensatory certificates obtained by Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), the National Medical Commission (NMC) has now revised its stance on the issue. In a notice issued on June 19, 2024, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the Commission clarified that all medical graduates from abroad who have completed sufficient physical onsite classes instead of online classes and have cleared the equivalent MBBS screening test will be eligible for a one-year mandatory internship.

However, the Commission said that all other conditions outlined in the public notice dated December 7, 2023, will remain unchanged

The decision comes as a relief to the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who were disappointed with the three year internship rule. Recently, the commission had refused to accept compensatory certificates for online classes and mandated a two to three-year internship period for the FMGs.

“In continuation to the Public Notice of even number dated 07th June, 2024, it is clarified that all students who have sufficiently compensated classes in physical onsite in lieu of the online classes and subsequently passed an examination equivalent to MBBS in India, shall be eligible for one year mandatory internship as specified in the CRMI Regulations 2021,” NMC said in a notice.

“The medical profession deals with precious human life, therefore the life of Indian citizens cannot be put at stake of poorly trained medical professionals,” NMC said.

The commission added that all other conditions will remain the same. The rule is also applicable to students who pass the equivalent exam from other countries.

On June 10, 2024, foreign medical graduates (FMGs) protested outside the National Medical Commission (NMC) office, calling the new circular 'unfair' and demanding its withdrawal. However, the NMC argues that extending the internship period will help FMGs become better medical professionals.

The NMC had introduced the 3-year internship rule because some students were getting fake certificates from their universities. The NMC stated that since doctors deal with human lives, it is important to ensure that they are well-trained to protect our health.

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