More than 400 FMGs in Tamil Nadu waiting to join Internship, Urge Health Ministry to Expedite Allotment Process

Chennai: Raising the issue of more than 400 foreign medical graduates in Tamil Nadu who are still waiting to join the mandatory internship programme after clearing the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), the FMG Wing of Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association (TNMSA) has now written to the State Health Ministry.

Writing to the Principal Secretary of State Health Department, the association has urged the Ministry to expedite the allotment process as earlier as possible.

Apart from the issue of these medicos, who are waiting more than 6 months to join the internship, the association has also raised the issue of internship fees.

It has been pointed out in the letter how the foreign medical graduates in Tamil Nadu have to pay Rs 21000 for Permanent Registration after completing internship at TNMC, when normally the Council charges Rs 3600 for Permanent Registration.

Also Read: Major Relief for FMGs: TN cuts Internship Fee by 90 percent

"We Foreign Medical Graduates from different countries, belong mostly from middleclass families unable to pay huge money in india. Most of us missed the chance to study in india by little margin. So that we pursed our MBBS dream in foreign countries which is quite affordable. It takes solidly 6 years to complete undergraduy medical course outside India and after coming back it takes at least 1 year to complete FMGE screening exam.After clearing we have to undergo Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship 1 year in respective states involving a chain of departments NBEMS , State Medical Council , parent university , State medical Universities , MOE , Indian embassy under MEA. For verification minimum it takes 6 months. Almost it takes 8 to 9 years to register as a doctor in India. We are very depressed financially , mentally as a first generation doctor. According to March 4 , May 19 2022 NMC cited that no fees should be collected for joining internship," the association mentioned in the letter.

In this regard, the association referred to the NMC Circular dated March 04, 2022, and May 19, 2022, as per which no fee should be collected to join internship.

"...already we charged by TNMC for Provisionally Eligibility certificate Rs 10,340 and Provisional Rs 1030 after verification with Parent University , Indian embassy, NBE, NMC, state school education, passport, but after completing internship also we are asked to pay Rs.21000 in the name of verification. It is more Financial burden to us) kindly reduce the fee for getting Permanent Registration," the association urged the Health Secretary.

Apart from urging the authorities to reduce the fee for getting Permanent Registration, the association has also requested to speed up the CRMI Allotment for foreign medical graduates who cleared FMGE and waiting for an Internship in Tamil Nadu.

Also Read: Take Strict Action on Medical Colleges charging MBBS Internship fee, not paying stipend to FMGs: NMC orders State Counterparts

"Now there are around more than 400 foreign medical graduates who had cleared FMGE and having all the required documents and waiting more than 6 months to join internship at tamilnadu. Kindly expedite the allotment process as earlier as possible," the letter added.

Commenting on the matter, TNMSA's FMG wing Secretary Dr Senthilkumar told Medical Dialogues, "We represented to the Health Secretary and after going through it he immediately contacted and forwarded the petition to the TNMC registrar. Even the Health Secretary also questioned why it is 7 times higher for permanent registration fees. Then he assured us to get a solution for our requests. The response is positive. Anyway, we need to wait for some time and otherwise, we have to approach the Health Secretary again."

When asked about the delay in FMG Internship Allotment Process, he added, "The Health Secretary said that for the vacancies regarding the allotment he will contact the DME officials. He also assured that the allocation process for the vacancies will be expedited with transparency. However, according to the FMGs, the DME officials received the required documents who got NOC before July 15 only."

"We are collecting information about exactly how many are waiting. We will wait for the response and approach again," he added.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in March 2022, the National Medical Commission (NMC) provided major relief to the Foreign Medical Graduates who want to pursue internship in India. NMC had clarified that the Indian medical colleges shall not charge any fees from the medical graduates from abroad for permitting them to do internship in India.

In fact, the apex medical regulator had further made it clear that the FMGs would be paid equal stipend and other facilities just like the Indian Medical Graduates who are being trained at Government Medical Colleges.

The reason for such relief on NMC's part was the fact that the medical graduates from abroad were facing hardship in getting themselves registered in some of the State medical Councils after publication of Foreign Medical Graduates Licentiate Regulations, 2021 and Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship Regulations, 2021 by National Medical Commission.

Complying with the NMC directions, the State Government of Tamil Nadu decided to slash the Rs 2 lakh fees that needs to be paid to the Government. Further, it has also reduced the Rs 3.20 lakh fees that the medicos need to pay to the MGR Medical University.

Also Read: FMGs seek fairness, certainty in issuance of permanent registrations by state medical councils, online petition filed