MBBS abroad: NMC warns students against admission to 4 foreign medical institutes in Belize, Uzbekistan
National Medical Commission (NMC)
New Delhi: Issuing a recent alert, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has warned Indian medical students against taking admission to undergraduate medical courses in some institutes in Belize and Uzbekistan.
The Apex medical commission has listed down four medical institutes, including (i) Central American Health and Sciences University, Belize, (ii) Columbus Central University, Belize, (iii) Washington University of Health and Sciences, Belize, and (iv) Chirchik Branch of Tashkent State Medical University, Uzbekistan.
This comes after the Indian Embassy in Mexico and the Eurasia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs highlighted serious concerns against these medical institutes regarding the lack of compliance with Indian medical education standards, inadequate or non-existent university campus infrastructure, poor quality of educational and clinical training facilities, instances of harassment of Indian students, excessive fees being charged, and denial of fee refunds upon withdrawal from the course.
Medical Dialogues had been reporting on the advisories issued by the NMC against students going abroad to pursue their dreams of becoming doctors. The Commission has time and again warned students that the quality of medical education in several institutes abroad does not meet the NMC standards.
In the recent alert, NMC referred to the Commission's notices dated 8th August 2023 and 22nd November 2024, wherein Indian students aspiring to obtain medical qualifications from foreign institutions and subsequently seeking registration to practice allopathy in India, were advised to ensure strict compliance with the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021, notified on 18.11.2021.
NMC had specifically cautioned the students that any deviation in respect to the (i) duration of the course, (ii) medium of instruction, (iii) syllabus and curriculum, (iv) clinical training, and (v) internship or clerkship arrangements may result in disqualification of the students from obtaining registration in India.
"Despite these advisories, it has been observed that Indian students continue to seek admission to foreign medical institutions which do not meet the required standards prescribed under FMGL Regulations, 2021," noted the Commission.
Accordingly, based on the communications received from the Indian Embassy in Mexico and the Eurasia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and the advisories issued by the Embassies, the Commission advised students to avoid seeking admission to some specific medical institutes in Belize and one in Uzbekistan.
"Failure to follow this advisory may result in ineligibility for medical registration in India. Further, it is also advised that before seeking admission to any foreign medical institute or university, the prospective students and their parents are strongly advised to carefully read the Alert/Advisory uploaded on the National Medical Commission (NMC) website dated 19th May 2025. The advisory contains critical information regarding recognized institutions, eligibility criteria, and other important guidelines," warned the Commission.
"All those students who are governed by FMGL Regulation, 2021 and undergo their studies in such institutes/universities; are advised that they may face disqualification from registration in India, due to non-compliance with the FMGL Regulations, 2021. The students need to consider and immediately evaluate, if their current university meets FMGL Regulations, 2021. Stay in touch with NMC updates in the dedicated website, consult the Indian Embassy of the concerned country for updates on recognition or blacklisting of institutions and immediately take corrective measure since FMGL Regulations are applied at the time of screening/registration," it further mentioned.
To view the notice, click on the link below:
