Upload required details for processing applications of Temporary Registration to sponsored foreign medical practitioners: NMC warns hospitals, medical colleges

New Delhi: Taking note of the fact that some of the registered hospitals/medical colleges/institutes have not yet uploaded the required information regarding the Fellowship programs being run by them on their official website, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has now issued a warning to the medical colleges, clarifying that it may cause a delay in processing the applications for temporary registration of the Foreign Medical Practitioners they have sponsored.

The Apex Medical Commission has clearly mentioned that the "onus of such rejection would squarely lie with the Sponsoring institute" and therefore asked the institutes to ensure that all the necessary details are available on their website, for online verification by the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the Commission.

In this regard, NMC referred to Section 13.1.2 of "Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations, 2023" which states that a foreign citizen may be allowed to do Fellowship/Clinical Research/Clinical training/Observership for enhancing their skill and competence through training or academic courses conducted in any institute in India. However, for this, the Institute needs to apply to the EMRB through web portal with the details including name and registration certificate of the foreign national, upload information related to the course content, duration, training facilities, teaching, and infrastructure facilities on the college website, submit details of fee being charged, and pay a processing fee in favour of NMC EMRB.

"On Scrutiny of the application, if the same is found to be correct as required in these regulations, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board may grant a temporary registration in respect of the foreign national which shall be provided for a maximum period of 12 months followed by a cooling off period of one year and shall be limited to the medical college/institution/hospital sponsoring the programme," states the regulations.

Apart from this, NMC also referred to the advisory issued by the Commission on 23.08.2023. In the advisory, referring to "Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations, 2023", NMC had mentioned that in order to streamline the process of timely grant of temporary registration to the Foreign Medical practitioners, "The details of Fellowship programs being run by such registered hospital/medical college/institute should be duly uploaded on their official website. along with information related to course content, duration, training facilities, teaching, faculty details (along with active registration No) and infrastructure facilities etc. must be made available for online verification of the same by EMRB (NMC) at the time of processing the application received for grant of Temporary Registration."

Referring to these regulations and advisory, NMC in its recent notice mentioned, "Processing of application of Temporary Registration to the foreign medical practitioners sponsored by any Institute/Hospital in the country-regarding Attention is invited to section 13.1.2 of "Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations, 2023" and this office advisory of even number dated 23.08.2023 on the above subject (copy enclosed) vide which Sponsors of Temporary Registration was requested to ensure that the details of Fellowship programs being run by registered hospital/medical college/institute should be duly uploaded on their official website, along with information related to course content, duration, training facilities, teaching, faculty details (along with active registration No), infrastructure facilities and fee being charged by the Institute etc."

Highlighting that some of the registered hospital/medical college/institutes have not complied with these directions, the Commission further mentioned, "Despite the clear instructions, it has been observed that some of the registered hospital/medical college/institute have yet not uploaded the desired information on their website. This shortfall on the part of the Sponsors results in undue correspondence and avoidable delay in issuance of TP to the applicants." 

NMC has asked the medical colleges to comply with its directions at the earliest clarifying that non-compliance may result in delay in processing the applications received for temporary registration for fellowship programs and may also lead to rejection of the application altogether.

"In view of the above, in order to streamline the process of timely grant of temporary Registration to Foreign Medical practitioners, the Sponsors of Temporary Registration are once again requested to ensure, before submitting application of Temporary registration to National Medical Commission, that all the necessary details are available on the website of registered hospital/medical college/institute, for online verification by EMRB, National Medical Commission while processing of applications for temporary registration," it mentioned.

"Failure to comply with the above may cause delay in processing the applications received for temporary registration for fellowship programs and may also be a reason for rejection of application also and onus of such rejection would squarely lie with the Sponsoring institute," the Commission added in the advisory dated 17.08.2024.

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

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-notice-250864.pdf

Also Read: NMC Releases Temporary Registration Guidelines for Foreign Medical Practitioners, Here are Key Takeaways