8 Months on, More than 50 FMGs await Internship in Himachal

Dharmasala: More than 50 medical graduates from abroad, who have cleared the screening test i.e. Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) have been waiting for their internship for more than eight months in in Himachal Pradesh. 

The students alleged that they cleared their FMGE test in June 2023 and since then, they have been struggling to get enrolled in the mandatory internship programme in Himachal.

According to the students, another batch of foreign medical graduates have also passed the FMGE test in January 2024 and they are also facing similar problems.

Upset and worried over this huge delay, one of the medical graduates informed The Tribune that in case the government could not provide a solution to their problem, they will initiate a protest.

Medical Dialogues had reported last year in December despite clearing FMGE in July 2023, FMGs were facing delays in the internship allotment process. Back then, the FMGs in Himachal did not receive any response from the State Medical Council, adding to the uncertainty and frustration among the graduates.

As per the latest media report by the Tribune India, a medical graduate informed that while other states allocated seats to their own domicile doctors back in September and October 2023, the Himachal Pradesh Medical Council still has not stayed even the process of alloting internship to the foreign medical graduates, who have cleared the screening test.

He further alleged that there were 50 FMGE passed-out graduates in HImachal who have been waiting for their internship for the past eight months. Doctors are worried over this delay as their future is at stake. Without completing the internship, the medical graduates from abroad will not be able to work privately or even qualify for PG/MD entrance exams. Referring to this, the medical graduate pointed out that it is the responsibility of the State to ensure internship opportunities for the FMGs who pass in the FMGE test.

The student further informed the Daily that many other States are restricting internships to their own residents only. Due to this, doctors in Himachal Pradesh are facing a problem. He added that it is unfair to penalise them for pursuing their MBBS degrees or being residents of Himachal.

Meanwhile, commenting on the matter, Dr Ramesh Bharti, former Director Medical Research and Education and Principal of Hamirpur Medical college informed the Daily that previously FMGE candidates were selected at medical college level. However, now they are selected via centralised process and now Atal Medical University would be conducting their selection. He added that the advertisement for the selection was likely to be out very soon.

Also Read: Doctors urge Mansukh Mandaviya, NMC to reconsider 3 year internship rule for FMGs