Eligibility Certificate Fee Should be at par with Indian Medical Graduates: TN FMG Wing Urges Health Secretary

Chennai: Highlighting the disparity in the eligibility certificate fees for Indian and Foreign Medical Graduates, the Foreign Medical Graduates Wing of the Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association (TNMSA) has urged the Government to bring parity in this regard.

Currently, Indian Medical graduates from central government institutes/deemed universities/private universities/state-run universities have to pay Rs 1,888 (including 18%) GST to get eligibility certificates. For the NRIs, the fee is Rs 36,580 and the Foreign Medical Graduates are required to pay Rs 30,658 for this purpose.

As per the existing norms, it is mandatory for medical graduates to obtain eligibility certificates to participate in the counselling for admission to postgraduate degree and diploma programmes, if they have not obtained their MBBS/PG degrees from Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

Referring to how the FMGs are required to pay at every other step, the FMG Wing of Tamil Nadu Medical Students' Association (TNMSA) mentioned in its letter directed to the State Health Secretary, "Foreign Medical Graduates from Tamilnadu belong mostly from middle class families. Most of us missed the chance to study in India by little margin. So we pursued our MBBS dream in foreign countries which is quite affordable. It takes at least a year to complete FMGE screening licentiate exam After clearing it we have to undergo Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship for 1 year in our respective statwa which involves a chain of departments such as NBEMS, State Medical Councils, parent university, State Medical Universities, MOE, Indian embassy under MEA for verification of our medical degree, at minimum it takes at least 6 months to get across this. Adding all together it takes Almost 8 to 9 years to get registered as a doctor in India, it tests us both financially & mentally as a first-generation doctor from middle class families."

"As already we paid fees for following Provisional Eligibility certificate Rs 10236, Provisional Registration Number Rs 1032, NOC from Tamilnadu Dr. Mgr Medical University Rs 33500 for joining Internship as a training doctor after completing internship also we have to pay for Permanent Registration Rs 15000 which is 2 times higher. After qualifying Neet pg also For PG counciling we need to pay Rs 30000 to get Eligibility certificate from Dr. Mgr Medical University which is 15 times higher than normal (usually they charge Rs 1888 for Indian graduates for eligibility certificate)," the letter further added.

Commenting on the matter, Dr. Senthil Kumar from the FMG Wing of TNMSA informed Medical Dialogues that not only they are required to pay 15 times higher than the Indian Medical Graduates to obtain the eligibility certificates, but this fee is collected every time for the purpose of appearing in the PG medical counselling.

"Already we are clearing the verification process, paying for the no objection certificates for internship. Foreign Medical Graduates, who have registered as doctors, are being told to pay approximately Rs 30,000- almost 15 times higher fee than the Indian Medical Graduates. They are comparing us with the NRIs. We are from middle-class families. How can we afford to pay this much?" Dr. Kumar told Medical Dialogues.

"It is not fair. They are discriminating us. So, we have requested the State Health Secretary to bring parity in the amount of fees paid by the Indian Medical Graduates and the Foreign Medical Graduates," he added, referring to NMC rules, which also call for parity.

 The FMG Wing requested the authorities to charge equal fees from the Indian and Foreign Medical Graduates and to accept the eligibility certificate for other years as well.

Also Read: TN Reduces Registration Fees for the FMGs after Doctors Approach Health Secretary