Which foreign PG medicos are equivalent to Indian specialists, Eligible for teaching? NMC releases draft TEQ norm, invites comments

New Delhi: Seeking feedback from various stakeholders and authorities, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has invited public comments on the proposed draft for amendment in "Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022".

The proposed amendment deals with the equivalence of foreign PG qualifications as well as the entry of such doctors into medical academia.

The proposed new draft statement on the TEQ rules implies that if a doctor has acquired an MBBS qualification in India and Postgraduation from any of the 5 specific English-speaking countries- United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, then they will eligible for registration in India as a specialist.

The amendment also lays down their entry into medical academia as per the TEQ rules 2022.

These TEQ Regulations 2022 published via a gazette issued by the NMC's PG Medical Education Board, are enforceable from February 14th this year.According to the rules, appointment and promotion of faculty in various teaching specialities imparting graduate and postgraduate medical education in medical institutions, falling within the purview of the National Medical Commission, has to be in accordance with the minimum qualifications and experience prescribed in these Regulations, so as to maintain a standard of teaching in medical institutions.

These TEQ rules specify the number of patterns starting with who can be classified as a medical teacher, while also specifying a number of courses that doctors will now have to clear to be eligible for various faculty posts.

Read Also: NMC releases Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations 2022

The regulations include Clause 12: "General norms regarding Foreign Postgraduate Qualifications for Equivalence" mandating the prerequisites for teachers with foreign PG qualifications joining into Indian medical academia.

The norms specify that in the case of a person with Postgraduate medical qualifications awarded in the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, his qualifications can be considered as equivalent qualifications with MD/MS/DM/MCh, as the case may be if they fulfil the following criteria in those countries.

United Kingdom: They should have completed Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) or equivalent training with final FRCS/FRCP degree and registered in that country to practice in that speciality.

United States of America and Canada: They should have MD qualification with Residency Training Certificate in the relevant speciality in the USA. For Super specialities, successful completion of Residency Training Programme along with completion of accredited Fellowship programme in the relevant super speciality is essential.

Australia and New Zealand: They should have completed a supervised training programme culminating in the Fellowship of the respective Specialty (FRACS/FRACP). For Super Specialties, a minimum of two years of the supervised sub-speciality Fellowship programme in the respective sub-speciality is essential.

They should have done their complete duration of training in those countries and be registered there to practice in that speciality.

Clause 12.3 of these norms specifies the eligibility of a foreign medico for a teaching job at an institute. As per the current rules, if a medico will be eligible for the post of Assistant Professor in the respective department and their subsequent promotions would be as per TEQ regulations 2022.

However, the NMC has proposed an amendment to this rule to be replaced with a medico who acquired an MBBS qualification in India and a PG qualification from any of the 5 specific English-speaking countries- United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, then he/she shall be eligible for registration in India as a specialist.

If after acquiring the PG qualification, he/she has been working in a teaching hospital, then depending on their teaching experience, they will be considered for teaching job.

The notification issued by Dr Sandhya Bhullar, NMC Secretary, stated:

In exercise of the power conferred by Section 57 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the National Medical Commission hereby make amendment to the following regulations, namely Section 12.3 of the "Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022", notified by the National Medical Commission vide Notification No. NMC/MCl-23(1)/2021-MED. Dated 14th February, 2022 stands amended as under:-

For:

" 12.3 In such case, he will be eligible for the post of Assistant Professor in the respective department and his subsequent promotions would be as per Teachers "Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations-2022."

To be replaced as:

"12.3 In such cases if he/she has acquired MBBS qualification in India and PG qualification from any of the five English speaking countries, mentioned in Section 12.1, then he/she shall be eligible for registration in India as specialist and if, after acquiring PG qualification, he/she has been working in a teaching hospital, then depending on his/her teaching experience in medical sciences, he/she shall be considered for teaching job in medical college in India as per Teachers "Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations-2022 and as amended from time to time."

The concerned can share Public Comments on the draft amendment to the Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022 as per Section 57 of the NMC Act, 2019 at the e-mail ID - coordination@nmc.org.in in MS Word (.docx) format or machine readable PDF format within 30 days of publication of this notice.

To view the official NMC Notice, Click here

Click here to access the NMC TEQ Rules 2022.

Read Also: TEQ Rules 2022: NMC spells out Foreign PG Medical Qualifications for Equivalence