Make Uniform Timeline for Internship, Registration: FMGs Urge NMC

New Delhi: Highlighting the problems faced foreign medical graduates, including the delay in starting internships and getting permanent registrations, the foreign medical graduates have urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) to enforce a uniform timeline and standardize the documentation process to ensure that the medical graduates from abroad do not have to face career roadblocks.

Further, the All FMGs Association (AFA) has also stressed the need for better coordination and communication between NMC and the State Medical Councils. As per the association, better coordination can eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, enhance career momentum, reduce stress and address workforce shortages.

Explaining the issue, Dr. Kaushal from AFA explained to Medical Dialogues how FMGs across the States have to wait for 6-8 months to get enrolled into the internship programme.

As per the existing rules, it is mandatory for the medical graduates from abroad to first clear the compulsory screening test i.e. Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), and then undergo the mandatory internship (1-3 years) to be eligible to register with the concerned State Medical Council and practice medicine in the State.

Also Read: WB FMGs Awaiting Internship Since July, Urge Govt to Hold Counselling

However, Dr. Kaushal informed that often the FMGs from States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and several other States from North including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh etc. have to wait for 6-8 months to start the internship period which is a "wastage of time".

"They can't take the NEET PG exam as well. After the internship, depending on the preparation, it takes a student another 1-2 years to clear the PG medical entrance exam. Further, it takes 4-5 months to get permanent registrations for the FMGs. So, depending on the internship period (1 or 2 years), it can take two to three years for the medical graduates from abroad to be eligible to appear in the NEET PG examination," he said.

Dr. Kaushal pointed out that while the FMGs cleared the screening test in January, States like Maharashtra have not yet released the notice for internships. "Suppose they publish the notice in June, it will take one month to complete the process. So, from January to August, these 6 months will go completely wasted for the students. And they would not be eligible to appear even in NEET PG 2026," he explained.

Further pointing out that there often is a gap in communication between NMC and the State Medical Councils, Dr. Kaushal added, "We want NMC to make a uniform guideline for starting the internship within 2 months of the FMGE exam, and the notice should be published within a week. The Medical Councils are well aware of the date of FMGE exam. So, they should prepare in advance."

Addressing the issue, AFA mentioned in a X (formerly Twitter) post, "Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) encounter significant career roadblocks due to delays in starting mandatory internships in India. States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan,Maharashtra..etc often take 4-5 months after result declaration to allocate internship seats, stalling professional growth. These delays exacerbate financial and mental burdens. A streamlined process, with internships starting within 2 months of releasing scorecard, would mitigate these issues, enabling FMGs to contribute to India’s healthcare system sooner. The National Medical Commission (@NMC_BHARAT) can enforce uniform timelines, standardize documentation, and coordinate with state medical councils to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks. This reform would reduce stress, enhance career momentum, and address workforce shortages."

While FMGs are requesting NMC to address the issue of delay in commencing internship, the officials in the National Medical Commission (NMC) have cited the verification process as the reason for the delay.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, the Chairman of NMC, Dr. B.N. Gangadhar, said, "Clearing the FMGE exam is one of the requirements. Several other things need to be verified as these students have studied abroad. Each state medical Council carefully evaluates these to ascertain the information submitted by the candidates. The delay may be related to the verification logistics."

"There are a lot of challenges but the SMCs are doing a wonderful job and making the entire process possible. We ask the FMGs to bear with the process," he added.

Medical Dialogues has been reporting on the issues faced by the FMGs while obtaining permanent registration. They were also complaining about the tenure of the internship assigned to them, even though they duly compensated for their online classes. Reportedly, around 150 students in Andhra Pradesh, who pursued their medical education from abroad and applied for permanent registration after completing their one-year internship back in May, had not been allotted the Permanent Registration.

Also Read: Permanent Registration Pending! Andhra FMGs Fear Missing NEET PG 2025