Medical Education in USA: Health Ministry gives one-time relaxation in existing instructions for Statement of Need certificate

According to the Health Ministry, the authorities noted that a large number of candidates are facing difficulties in India and abroad in completing the required documentation while applying for a Statement of Need (SoN) certificate for joining training programme/ course in medical specialities in medical institutions in the USA due to measures taken by Governments for containment of COVID-19.

Therefore, in view of exceptional circumstances on account of COVID-l9 pandemic and taking into account various these representations, the Ministry of Health & Family welfare after due consideration and to safeguards the interests of the doctors who are pursuing residency/fellowship in the USA, as a one-time measure, has decided to give some relaxation in the existing guidelines for submission of applications for SON certificate.

It has been decided that if a candidate face difficulty in submission of applications with requisite documents in physical form, he/she may submit a scanned copy of duly filled in the application form and essential documents (copy of offer letter received from concerned foreign University/institution and valid Indian passport; valid VISA in connection with applicant's present stay in a foreign country (whereas applicable only); copy of earlier issued SON, if issued earlier) through email to soic-mohfw@nic.in.

While sending the Scanned copy of the application along with the above-mentioned documents, an undertaking (attached below) shall invariably be submitted by the applicant stating that the original SON application along with all the documents as prescribed in the guidelines for the SON certificate will be submitted by the candidate to "The Under Secretary (IC), international cooperation Section, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (Department of Health & Family Welfare), Room No. 504, 'D' Wing, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi - 110011 on or before 30th June, 2021.

ln such case, a SON certificate will be issued through email to ECFMG at moh@ecfmg.org, and a copy will be marked to the candidate at email address mentioned in the application form. The original SON certificate (in a sealed envelope to be sent to ECFMG by the candidate) will be released only after receipt of a physical copy of application along with all requisite documents from the applicant by 30th June 2021.

If a candidate fails to submit by 30th June 2021, the original application along with all required documents as per the existing guidelines/instructions to this Ministry or any discrepancy is noticed in the original documents submitted by the applicants vis-a-vis email on the basis of which a SON certificate has been issued through email to ECFMG, the SON certificate issued earlier would liable to be cancelled.

The applicants who have already submitted their applications in the current financial year and are facing difficulties in submitting the revised documents (after sorting out the discrepancies) in the physical mode will also be covered by this notice.

To view the official notice including Format for Undertaking to be submitted by a candidate along with the application for issuance of the statement of Need (SON) certificate for joining training programme/course medical specialities in medical institutions in the USA, click on the following link: