No mandatory internship for MBBS graduates from China, others: MCI tells State medical councils

As an obvious outcome, these students can now appear for the FMGE exams without nodus.

Accordingly, the medical councils are directed to take note of this effect while processing applications of foreign medical graduates.

The information to this effect was issued by the Dr R K Vats, Secretary-General of Board of Governors in supersession of MCI (MCI BoG) after the authorities there received frequent communications from Foreign Medical Graduates regarding the acceptance of their internship undergone in Foreign Medical Institutes.

In this regard, the MCI invited the concerned students' and medical council's attention to a public notice posted on the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India clearly stating that the internship training completed by an Indian national during his/her MBBS course in China was/ is acceptable for the purpose of grant of permanent registration under section 13(3) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. The notice clearly states 

"It is not mandatory for such students to do 12 months of internship training in India.

"The position stated above is in accordance with the provisions of the India Medical Council Act, 1956 and also identical in respect of MBBS or equivalent "primary medical qualification" obtained by an Indian national from any other country also such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, etc, " the MCI in its notice has clarified further adding

Therefore, it is advisable that all state medical councils while processing applications of foreign medical graduates take note of the above-stated position.

To view the official notice, click on the following link:

"Primary medical qualification" means any minimum qualification sufficient for enrolment on any State Medical Register or for entering the name in the Indian Medical Register.

What does Section 13(3) in The Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 say?

The medical qualifications granted by medical institutions outside India, before such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify which are included in Part IInd of the Third Schedule shall also be recognised medical qualifications for the purposes of this Act, but no person possessing any such qualification shall be entitled to enrolment on any State Medical Register unless he is a citizen of India and has undergone such practical training after obtaining that qualification as may be required by the rules or regulations in force in the country granting the qualification, or if he has not undergone any practical training in that country he has undergone such practical training as may be prescribed.

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The FMGE-Screening Test has been introduced through Screening Test Regulations 2002.

As per the regulations, "An Indian citizen/Overseas citizen of India possessing a primary medical qualification awarded by any medical institution outside India who is desirous of getting provisional or permanent registration with Medical Council of India or any State Medical Council on or after 15.03.2002 shall have to qualify a screening test conducted by the prescribed authority for that purpose as per the provisions of section 13 of the Act.

National Board of Examinations (NBE) has been entrusted with the responsibility to conduct the Screening Test as per Screening Test Regulations 2002. Role of NBE is limited to conduct of the test, publishing the result and handing over the result to the Medical Council of India & all State Medical Councils.

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