TN Reduces Registration Fees for the FMGs after Doctors Approach Health Secretary

Chennai: Offering relief to the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), the Tamil Nadu Government has reduced their fees for registration as doctors. This comes after, the medical graduates from abroad approached the State Health Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi, who is also a member of the ad hoc committee administrating the State Medical Council.

While earlier the FMGs were required to pay Rs 20464 as fees for this purpose, now after the State has reduced it, they only need to pay Rs 15340 as fees for registration. Although there has not been any official communication reducing the fees, the reduced amount is visible on the website. 

The medicos raised the issue first time in October and again they approached the Health Department official with the same request. On the one hand, Indian medical students are required to pay only Rs 3,600 for the process of registration. However, on the other, the medical graduates from abroad were required to pay Rs 20464 for the same process.

Raising the issue, foreign medical graduates have been demanding that they should be required to pay the same fees as Indian medical students. Commenting on the matter, the Secretary of the Foreign Medical Graduate wing of the Tamil Nadu Medical Students' Association (TNMSA) Dr M Senthil Kumar told Medical Dialogues, "Already the State Medical Council verified with NBE, NMC, the Indian Embassy, University, School Education Department, and Passport and at that time the FMGs were charged Rs 11000 for joining internship and to get provisional registration, Now again, they are charged in the name of verification for permanent registration."

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"So, on the behalf of Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association FMG Wing, I requested the Hon'ble Health Secretary to help reduce the fees. Sir responded positively and then we heard that the fee was reduced by Rs 5,000. While earlier it was Rs 20464, it is now showing Rs 15340 on the website," he mentioned.

"When compared to previous fees, this is certainly a relief, but fees should be charged equally and it should be reasonable. Many of us are from first generation doctors and it's very difficult to complete the studies, join the internship and get registered as a doctor. So, our request should be considered by Tamil Nadu State Medical Council," he added.

The doctors have also requested the authorities to mention the government medical college where they underwent training in the permanent registration certificate.

Earlier, in a letter addressed to the State Health Secretary, the association had also mentioned, "We kindly request you to suggest for documentation for the Permanent Registration Certificate regarding to mention about the training particular Govt Medical College Hospital."

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