Variation in training may lead to disqualification! NMC warns students planning MBBS abroad

New Delhi: Attention all Indian medical aspirants planning MBBS abroad!  The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued an alert against taking MBBS admissions to those foreign medical institutions which do not adhere to the regulations laid by the commission or whose training imparted to students is not in consonance with the NMC norms.

The apex medical commission has further warned the students that any variation in duration, medium of instructions, syllabus, clinical training or internship/clerkship may lead to disqualification in the grant of registration in India. "ln case of disqualification, the sole responsibility shall lie upon the candidate only," the NMC warned. 

Hence, all students students who are desirous of obtaining the medical qualification from any foreign medical institutions or universities and thereafter practice allopathy in India, are hereby advised to ensure that all conditions prescribed in FMGL are fulfilled before taking admission.

The notification issued under the authority of Shambhu Sharan Kumar, Director of the Undergraduate Medical Education Board of the NMC (UGMEB) states:

"lt has come to the notice of this Commission that in spite of Advisory and Alert issued by NMC, several Indian students are seeking admission to private medical colleges abroad which do not adhere to regulations laid by National Medical Commission and the Institutes or Universities abroad are following the curriculum, time frame and training imparted to the students are not in consonance with NMC regulations being followed in India. It has also come to the notice of this Commission that many students still taking admissions to such Institutes/Universities."

Referring to the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiates (FMGL) Regulations, 2021, the notice stated, "National Medical Commission published Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiates (FMGL) Regulations, 2021 in the official gazette of India vide notification dated 18.11.2021 wherein the terms of duration of the study, medium of instructions, syllabus, clinical training or internship/clerkship etc. are prescribed. These conditions are mandatory for registration to practice allopathy in India."

"In view of the above, all the students who are desirous to obtain the medical qualification from any foreign medical institutions or universities and thereafter practice allopathy in India, are hereby again advised to ensure that all conditions prescribed in FMGL are fulfilled before taking admission," the NMC advised.

"Any variation in duration, medium of instructions, syllabus, clinical training or internship/clerkship may lead to disqualification in grant of registration in India. ln case of disqualification, the sole responsibility shall lie upon the candidate only," the NMC has warned.

The apex regulator had issued a similar warning last year. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the FMGL Regulations 2021 brought many changes, which might make foreign medical education less lucrative. The regulations mention that after acquiring their medical degree, foreign medical graduates in future will have to clear the NeXT exam and also undergo additional internships in India, apart from pursuing internships in their own institutions in the foreign country where they have studied.

On the issue of granting permanent registration to Foreign Medical Graduates, the regulations state that no foreign medical graduate shall be granted permanent registration, unless he/she has– undergone an MBBS course with a duration of fifty-four months, completed an internship for a minimum of 12 months, studied in the medium of instructions in English, studied some specific subjects, registered with the respective professional regulatory body, completed a supervised internship in India for 12 months, has cleared the National Exit Test or any such other mandated tests conducted by the NMC, and obtained provisional registration from the respective state medical councils.

In 2022, the Apex Medical Commission warned the students before taking admission in medical institutes abroad. Back then, NMC reminded the students about the travel restrictions imposed by China and clarified that the medical courses done only by online mode are not recognized by the medical regulator.

To view the advisory, click here