As described in the guidelines, the internship is a phase of training wherein a medical graduate will acquire the skills and competencies for practise of medical and health care under supervision in preparation for independent, unsupervised primary care. "The Internship shall be completed within 2 years of passing the Final MBBS / FMGE/NExT Examination whenever in force," it further says while also specifying situations where an appropriate extension may be given.

"Every candidate shall be required to undergo Compulsory Rotating internship to the satisfaction of the College authorities and University concerned after passing the final MBBS examination/ NExT whenever operational, for a period of 12 months so as to be eligible for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) by the respective universities and Permanent Registration in accordance with the Permanent Registration Regulations 2021 of the NMC," the guidelines state.

Meanwhile, according to the earlier released draft notifications by the National Medical Commission (NMC), FMGs who have completed their MBBS from abroad will only be given two years time post completion of their course to clear the Screening test in India in order to practice.

What do the guidelines say for FMGs?

The guidelines define "Foreign Medical Graduate" or "FMG" as a person who has graduated with a Primary Medical Qualification outside India having fulfilled the applicable requirements in accordance with the Screening Test Regulations, 2002 and the Eligibility Requirement for taking admission in an undergraduate medical course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002 of the erstwhile Medical Council of India with amendments duly recognized by the NMC under Section 61(2) of the NMC Act, 2019 superseded by the Foreign Medical Graduates Regulations 2021 of the NMC whenever this regulation comes into force and is equivalent to International Medical Graduates terminology used elsewhere.

Furthermore, the guidelines spell out directions to institutions and medical colleges which will be implementing the internship program for FMGs. The directions clearly prescribe:

(a)Foreign Medical Graduates who require to complete a period of internship shall do so only in Medical Colleges/ Institutions approved for providing Compulsory Rotating Internship to Indian Medical Graduates

(b)Foreign Medical Graduates may be posted to different Medical Colleges/Institutions through a counselling/ seat allocation process based on the merit or by any other scheme/method as may be notified by the National Medical Commission or any other authority as applicable

(c) Medical Colleges / Institutions may admit up to 7.5% of their permitted annual intake of MBBS seats applicable to that batch of interns to accommodate internship by Foreign Medical Graduates.

(d)The College/ Institution and its affiliated hospitals and Community Health Centres shall be recognized by the National Medical Commission for the conduct of the MBBS Course for that batch and also for conducting the Compulsory Rotating Internship programme.

Following Eligibility requirements need to be fulfilled to be eligible for Compulsory Rotating Internship by Foreign Medical Graduates:

(a)Foreign Medical Graduates as regulated by the Foreign Medical Graduate Regulations 2021 of the NMC, whenever this comes into force are required to undergo Internship at par with Indian Medical Graduates if they desire or seek Permanent Registration to practice Medicine in India.

(i)All Foreign Medical Graduates, unless otherwise notified shall be required to undergo Compulsory Rotating internship at par with Indian Medical Graduates after the National Exit Test (Next) becomes operational.

(b)Indian citizens (including overseas Indian citizens) who are Foreign Medical Graduates who do not fall under the purview of the Foreign Medical Graduate Regulations 2021 shall be regulated by the provisions of Section 13(3)of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 in accordance with the Advisory no MCI-203(1)(Gen)/2020-Regn./118239 dated 02/09/2020 and shall be required to complete Compulsory Rotating Internship in India if they have not undergone such practical training after obtaining such qualification a may be required by the rules and regulations in force in the country granting such qualification or has not undergone any practical training in that country.

Speaking in detail about provisional registration for the internship, the NMC has stated that it will be valid only for the period of the CRRI as well as the college where the intern is working. "The intern shall not be permitted for independent practice during the period of Compulsory Rotating Internship," the apex medical regulator has noted.

Regarding stipend, the council has noted that All interns shall be paid stipend as fixed by the appropriate fee fixation authority applicable to the Institution/university/ state.

To know the timelines of posting during MBBS internship, Read MBBS internship only at Medical College where medico is studying: NMC releases fresh guidelines for Compulsory Rotating Internship

To read the full guidelines, click on the following link

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-mbbs-internship-guidelines-156977.pdf