Kerala HC Quashes Mandatory Internship Order for FMGs

Granting major relief, the Kerala High Court recently quashed the State Government's order imposing internship fees on the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs).

While considering a batch of pleas challenging the State policy of imposing an internship fee for the FMGs to complete their mandatory internship programme in government hospitals, the HC bench comprising Justice N Nagaresh emphasised that only the National Medical Commission (NMC) had the power to regulate internships.

Further, the HC bench also opined that the State Government's action of imposing an internship fee was contrary to the Apex Medical Commission's guidelines.

The pleas before the High Court were filed by foreign medical graduates who completed their medical degrees in countries like Russia, Bulgaria, the Philippines, and Guyana. After passing the screening test i.e. Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) and obtaining provisional registration, these students applied for internships in government hospitals in Kerala.