No Development on NMC guidelines for Medical Students enrolled in China, Medicos seek clarity

New Delhi: The Indian medical students who have graduated from several medical institutes in China are complaining about the fact that there is no development on the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines that allowed the Foreign Medical Students to undergo their physical training in India.

Although it was July, 2022 when the Apex Medical Commission had released the guidelines for the FMGs who could not complete their clinical training from their parent institutes, the medicos from abroad are still waiting for clarity in this regard.

The concerned NMC guidelines had been released on the directions of the Supreme Court. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that bringing major relief to foreign medicos hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, the National Medical Commission (NMC) decided to frame a scheme and granted relaxation to medical graduates who completed their MBBS course from a foreign medical institute without undergoing physical clinical training.

Under the scheme, Indian students in the last year of their MBBS course who left their institute abroad due to Covid or the Russia-Ukraine war and completed their studies and also got a certificate of completion of the course on a date to be notified by NMC will be permitted to appear in Foreign Medical Graduate Examination, FMGE.

Upon qualifying the FMGE exam, such foreign medical graduates are required to undergo CRMI for two years, which is double of the usual duration. The doubling of the internship period is aimed at overcoming the deficit in clinical and practical skills training.

Thousands of students were stuck at their homes for more than one year after the Covid-19 outbreak and they were unable to go back to their parent institutes in China as the Government in there had officially announced that foreign students and teachers would not return to their colleges until further notice.

Meanwhile, NMC denied recognizing online studies, and afterward several students had approached the Supreme Court seeking relief. While considering such pleas, earlier this year, the Apex Court had ordered NMC "to frame a scheme as a one time measure within two months to allow the student and such similarly situated students who have not actually completed clinical training to undergo clinical training in India in the medical colleges which may be identified by the appellant for a limited duration as may be specified by the appellant, on such charges which the appellant determines."

 Accordingly NMC provided relief to the FMGs and stated, "In pursuance to the order dated 29.04.2022 passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in SLP No.2536-37 of 2022, it is informed that the Indian students who were in the last year of their undergraduate medicine course (due to COVID-19, Russia -Ukraine war etc had to leave their foreign medical institute and return to India) and have subsequently completed their studies as also have been granted certificate of completion of course / degree by their respective institute, on or before 30th June 2022, shall be permitted to appear in Foreign Medical Graduate Examination."

"Thereafter, upon qualifying the FMG examination, such foreign medical graduates are required to undergo Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) for a period of two years to make up for the clinical training which could not be physically attended by them during the undergraduate medicine course in the foreign institute as also to familiarise them with practise of medicine under Indian conditions. The foreign medical graduates will be eligible to get registration only after completing the CRMI for two years," the Apex Medical Regulator had further clarified.

Also Read: NMC relief: Final year MBBS medicos hit by COVID, Ukraine war can attempt FMGE, practice after 2 year Internship

As per the latest media report by Indian Express, months have passed since the announcement from NMC. However, the Foreign medical graduates from China are still confused regarding the implementation of the NMC order. 

While commenting on the matter, a student on the condition of anonymity told Indian Express, "As per general practice, we appear for the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam (FMGE) in India. After clearing this, we are expected to do another year's internship before we are recognised as doctors in India. Considering the dire conditions of the last two years, a one-time measure was announced by NMC. Instead of one year, it said we have to complete a two-year internship in India. But there is no clarity on it now."

"We completed college but there was no way to go back to China then for internships. The NMC also issued guidelines that medical courses completed in online mode will not be recognised in India," another student mentioned in this context.

Speaking to the daily, the President of the Foreign Medical Graduate Parents Association (FMGPA) said, "This one-time relief was granted by the NMC following a Supreme Court order in this regard. Students are willing to obey NMC's new guidelines and are ready for two years of internships. But there has to be some development now. Students who have completed their course are waiting aimlessly at home."

Also Read: NMC releases FAQs based on queries raised by Foreign Medical Graduates from Ukraine, China