FMGs protest outside delhi medical council office over PSM posting delay

New Delhi: In their ongoing agitation against the delay in Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) postings, Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) in Delhi held a protest recently outside the Delhi Medical Council office near Shastri Park, East Delhi.

The interns have been waiting for nearly a month for allotment of PSM postings. They fear that due to the delay, they may become ineligible for the upcoming INI-CET, which requires completion of the internship by July 31 and to appear for NEET PG exam or even start any medical practice in India.

The FMGs met officials at the medical council a day after approaching the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Earlier, during a meeting with the Additional Commissioner of MCD last Thursday, the students were informed that the responsibility of paying stipends to FMGs does not lie solely with the civic body. Officials reportedly stated that MCD cannot bear the financial burden for all FMGs on its own.

Also read- Delhi FMGs protest outside NMC office, flag INI CET, NEET PG eligibility risk amid PSM postings delay

Following this, the students were advised to approach the medical council and request the Registrar to formally take up the matter with higher authorities. Acting on this suggestion, the FMGs met the DMC Registrar and urged her to write to the Lieutenant Governor and the Central Secretariat seeking allocation of a separate fund for FMGs.

The students confirmed Medical Dialogues that the DMC Registrar agreed to their request and has sent an official communication to the concerned authorities.

Further, some students who stayed back at the DMC office said that reminder emails have also been sent to the parent hospitals where FMGs had completed nine months of their internship, informing them that they too share responsibility in the matter of stipend payments.

Medical Dialogues had previously raised the issue about the delays in the allotment of Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) postings. Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) previously protested in front of the NMC, urging the regulatory body to address their concerns.

As per a directive of the Supreme Court of India, FMG interns are entitled to receive a stipend during their internship. Following this, NMC issued instructions to all state medical councils, including the Delhi Medical Council (DMC), to implement this directive.

In Delhi, PSM postings are conducted through the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. However, MCD has expressed its inability to provide stipends, citing a lack of funds, and redirected the interns back to DMC.

On approaching DMC, they were informed that they are willing to initiate PSM postings. However, they asked the interns to seek clarification from NMC on whether they can submit an undertaking stating that they are voluntarily foregoing their stipend and will not claim it in the future.

When they approached NMC for clear guidance on this matter, the interns alleged that they were met with repeated delays and no definitive response.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, an intern said, "The fight is on, we are not yet at the destination, but we are moving forward slowly at our own pace in the best way we can, a lot of hindrances have come in our way but we are nowhere near stopping, we will fight and stand together till the victory is on our side, what we do next has to be bigger and more impactful than this."

Also read- FMGs face internship delays in Delhi amid PSM posting deadlock, seek NMC intervention