NMC Relief for FMGs in Philippines: Students Already Enrolled in BS Course before FMGL Regulations get course recognition

New Delhi: In a major relief to the Foreign Medical Students in the Philippines, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has declared that students who were studying the BS Course or had taken admission to the said course and were pursuing their studies physically in the medical institute abroad at the time of publication of FMGL Regulation 2021, will be allowed to continue their medical education.

While providing this one-time exemption specific to such students, the Apex Medical Commission has also clarified that such students will have to undergo an additional year of internship as per CRMI Regulation, 2021.

"Students who were studying BS Course or had taken admission in BS course and were physically studying in Foreign Medical Institute at the time of publication of FMGL Regulation 2021 dated 18.11.2021 shall be governed by old Screening Test Regulation, 2002 however such students shall have to undergo additional one year of internship as per CRMI Regulation, 2021," NMC UG Board mentioned in the notice dated 07.12.2023.

The Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations had been published on 18.11.2021. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that releasing the FMGL Regulations, NMC had specified that henceforth the minimum duration of the MBBS curriculum outside the country has to be 54 months (4.5 years).

As a result of this, the FMGs pursuing their medical education in Philippines faced uncertainty regarding their future. This is because, the majority of medical colleges in the Philippines offer a composite program with first a two-year BS course and thereafter a 4 year MD course (Graduate /Primary Medical Course being equivalent to MBBS). Since neither courses were of 4.5 years duration, they became invalid after implementation of the FMGL 2021 regulations.

The NMC decision was challenged before the Rajasthan High Court. Apart from this, NMC also received and considered the representations received from medical students who are pursuing BS Courses in Philippines, prior to publication of Gazette of India i.e. FMGL Regulations 2021, seeking exemption/ special dispensation.

The bone of contention was that while the actual MD course ( Graduate /Primary Medical Course being equivalent to MBBS) was of 4 years that is lesser than the required duration but the students in Phillipines were also asked to go through the BS degree, a 2 year program, which when accounted would mean a total duration of 6 years which would be above the required norm of 54 months and hence recognizable.

Also Read: NMC refuses to recognise BS Course from Philippines

Issuing a Public notice on March 25, 2022, NMC analyzed the course structure in detail and gave its decision on the matter. NMC noted that BS and MD course are two separate degrees in Philippines. BS Course cannot be equated/included with MBBS course. Therefore, after the publication of Gazette Notification dated 18.11.2021 i.e. NMC's FMGL Regulations 2021, the students who have already taken admission for any foreign medical qualification/course which is not equivalent to the MBBS Course in India, cannot be treated as eligible qualification for registration to practice medicine in India. Whereas, the students who have taken admission in MD course in Philippines prior to FMGL Regulations 2021 can be considered subject to fulfilling other prevailing eligibility criteria for registration.

"Bridging BS Course is a course for Bachelor of Science for candidates seeking to join courses in field of Science & Research in Philippines. The said course comprises of subjects of Biology similar to Class 11th & 12th in India," NMC had mentioned in the Public Notice.

NMC's decision affected around 10,000 Indian medical students who were pursuing the BS course in Philippines. Even though the Indian Embassy in Milan in the Philippines wrote to the NMC seeking relief for those students enrolled in the BS course, NMC turned down the request of the Indian Embassy to accept the BS course as a part of their undergraduate medical education curriculum.

However, the students continued their protest and NMC also received several representations from various State Medical Councils and also considered grievances regarding various difficulties faced by foreign medical graduates, especially the students from Ukraine and the Phillippines.

Last month, addressing the issue, NMC once again refused to recognise the BS Course in the Philippines. Releasing a clarification for the FMGs from Ukraine and Philippines, NMC addressed the issue of FMGs pursuing the BS Course in the Philippines and mentioned, "That with effect from 18.11.2021 i.e. with the publication of FMGL Regulation, 2021, NMC de-recognises BS Course in Philippines. Hence those FMGs who were studying BS Course or had taken admission in BS Course at the time of publication of FMGL Regulation are not allowed."

While the Commission has refused to grant relief to the students who were pursuing the BS course, it has offered relaxation to the medical students in Philippines who were admitted to the MD course on or before the publication of FMGL Regulations. The Commission has permitted them to complete their study and later apply for practicing licence in India.

In this regard, NMC mentioned in the notice, "However FMGs having taken admission in MD Course on or before 18.11.2021 are eligible to complete the course and subsequently write FMG Examination in India."

However, NMC has changed its stand since its last clarification issued on 22.11.2023. The Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the Commission issued another notice on December 7, 2023, and declared BS course valid in respect of such students who were already studying the course or had taken admission to the same at the time of publication of FMGL Regulations 2021.

"Students who were studying BS Course or had taken admission in BS course and were physically studying in Foreign Medical Institute at the time of publication of FMGL Regulation 2021 dated 18.11.2021 shall be governed by old Screening Test Regulation, 2002 however such students shall have to undergo additional one year of internship as per CRMI Regulation, 2021," NMC mentioned in the notice while clarifying that such students shall have to undergo an additional year of internship.

"This shall be one time exemption specific to these students only," clarified the Commission.

Apart from the issue of BS Course in Philippines, NMC in the latest notice also addressed several other issues related to Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs). It addressed issues relating to the FMGs from Ukraine, who came back to India in their final year or penultimate year. NMC has clarified about their requirement to undergo Clinical Clerkship, and also specified the clerkship fees that the medical colleges are allowed to charge from such students.

NMC has also clarified regarding the facility of the Academic Mobility Programme allowed to the FMGs from Ukraine who were in their 1st, 2nd or 3rd year of medical course at the time of return to India. "Period of permission of migration shall expire on 07.03.2024," NMC has clarified in the notice.

Besides, the Commission has also reiterated the conditions regarding the requirement of eligibility certificates for the FMGs, which were previously clarified by the Commission in its last clarification issued on 22.11.2023.

Finally, addressing the issue of capping of time limit for the FMGs to clear the screening test in India, NMC mentioned, "All FMGs shall have to complete their internship within 10 years from date of joining their Foreign Medical Institutions to procure qualification equivalent to MBBS in India."

To view the NMC notice, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-clarification-fmg-227350.pdf

Also Read: FMGs have to Avail Academic Mobility Programme within 3 Months Deadline- NMC Issues Detailed Clarification for all FMGs