Rajasthan FMG Internship: 766 get allotment, 370 miss the boat

New Delhi: 370 medical graduates from abroad, domiciled in Rajasthan, could not be allotted an internship seat despite clearing the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), the mandatory screening test.

According to the first merit list, released by the Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC), among 1136 candidates altogether 370 FMGs could not be allotted internship seats. 

While 766 students were allotted seats, several of them have secured seats in private medical colleges, which allegedly charge internship fees from the FMGs. Sources informed Medical Dialogues that raising the issue of inadequate FMG Internship seats, the FMGs in Rajasthan are planning to approach the State Medical Council on Monday.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues in this regard, a student who cleared the FMGE in January 2024 but did not secure an internship seat said, "All the seats that were released have already been filled. Almost 400 students did not get any seats. This is because they are not allowing internships at non-teaching hospitals. We want a 2nd counseling."

Meanwhile, highlighting the issue, the AIIMSA Foreign Medical Students' Wing mentioned in an X (formerly Twitter) post, "Again seat allotment issue from Rajasthan! Online merit list for FMG’s Internship from Rajasthan Jan 2024 (FMGE) passout’s was released yesterday by RMC. @aimsa_fmsw received several messages represented by FMG’s from Rajasthan.Nearly 400 domicile."

Also Read: Non-payment of stipend, Lack of seats, 3-year internship rule: Doctors meet NMC officials to raise issues of FMGs

The association pointed out that all the non-domicile students are yet to be allocated seats for the internship. Therefore, the association has requested the National Medical Commission (NMC), the Union Health Ministry and Rajasthan Government authorities to allot internship seats for FMG’s as soon as possible.

On behalf of all FMGs and their parents, the association also urged the authorities to validate all non-teaching hospitals from the respective State where the seats are facing seat allotment issue.

Commenting on the matter, the National Co-Convener of AIMSA FMSW, Dr Apurva Dalvi told Medical Dialogues, "We request NMC and respective State Medical Council to validate non-teaching hospitals so no seats can be increased to do internship as done previously as a one time measure."

Medical Dialogues had last year reported that around 2,000 FMG doctors were facing problems in getting enrolled into an internship programme. In the case of Rajasthan alone, only around 30 percent of the total students, who cleared the mandatory FMGE test in January secured a seat for Internship. Earlier, Rajasthan Medical Council only held counselling for filling only 399 seats while the state almost had approximately 2,000 FMG internship seats. 966 of the 1,365 exam-qualified candidates were still waiting for an internship seat.

Referring to this, Dr. Kaushal, the media coordinator from AFA told Medical Dialogues, "The NMC relaxation was valid till May 2024. Now it has already expired. On top of that, because of the 3-year-internship rule, there is a scarcity of seats. Last year, non-teaching hospitals were validated. If the validation is not renewed, the students who have to undergo 2 more years of internship will have to appear in counselling once again."

Referring to the situation in Rajasthan, he mentioned, "Around 400 domicile students in Rajasthan did not get seats and around 200 people secured seats in private medical colleges, where they charge money for internship seats, despite the NMC regulations." Dr. Kaushal informed that similar situation is being faced by the FMGs in Delhi as well.

When asked about the possible solution, he added, "The authorities should allow non-teaching hospitals as soon as possible, for the next 2-3 year at least. Otherwise, next year also there will be a similar kind of situation."

Commenting on the practice of collecting internship fees from FMGs, he added, "NMC should make it clear before the State Medical Councils not to allot seats in private medical colleges and even it they do, there should be strict monitoring to ensure that these colleges do not charge fees from the students."

Recently, AFA had raised the issue of non-availability of FMG Internship seats before the National Medical Commission (NMC) as well. Last month, the Delhi Medical Council also wrote to the President of NMC Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) advocating for conducting FMG internship at the non-teaching hospitals.

Also Read: Allow Internships at Non-Teaching Hospitals: FMGs Urge NMC