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."