NMC issues amendment to TEQ Rules 2022 on Foreign PG Medical Qualifications for Equivalence
New Delhi: Introducing amendments in the Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has modified "General Norms regarding Foreign Postgraduate Qualifications for Equivalence".
Previously, the Commission had specified that PG medical degree holders from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand would be eligible for the post of Assistant Professor in the respective department and his subsequent promotions would be as per TEQ rules.
However, modifying the rules, NMC has now mentioned that considered for teaching jobs in medical colleges in India, as per the rules, depending on their teaching experience in medical sciences.
Medical Dialogues had last year reported that releasing the TEQ Regulations 2022, NMC had spelt out the basic requirements for doctors, who have PG medical qualifications from foreign countries and who intend to enter into a teaching career in India.
According to the rules, appointment and promotion of faculty in various teaching specialities imparting graduate and postgraduate medical education in medical institutions, falling within the purview of the National Medical Commission, has to be in accordance with the minimum qualifications and experience prescribed in these Regulations, so as to maintain a standard of teaching in medical institutions.
The regulations included "General norms regarding Foreign Postgraduate Qualifications for Equivalence" mandating the prerequisites for teachers with foreign PG qualifications joining into Indian medical academia.
The norms 12.1 section had specified that in the case of a person with Postgraduate medical qualifications awarded in the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, his qualifications can be considered as equivalent qualifications with MD/MS/DM/MCh, as the case may be if they fulfil the concerned criteria applicable for those countries.
United Kingdom: They should have completed Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) or equivalent training with final FRCS/FRCP degree and registered in that country to practice in that speciality.
United States of America and Canada: They should have MD qualification with Residency Training Certificate in the relevant speciality in the USA. For Super specialities, successful completion of Residency Training Programme along with completion of accredited Fellowship programme in the relevant super speciality is essential.
Australia and New Zealand: They should have completed a supervised training programme culminating in the Fellowship of the respective Specialty (FRACS/FRACP). For Super Specialties, a minimum of two years of the supervised sub-speciality Fellowship programme in the respective sub-speciality is essential.
In section 12.3, NMC had mentioned last year, "In such cases he will be eligible for the post of Assistant Professor in the respective department and his subsequent promotions would be as per Teachers “Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations – 2022”."
However, the Commission has now modified this rule and the amendment in this regard has been published in the Gazette of India on March 31, 2023.
Issuing the amendment notification, NMC mentioned, "In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 57 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the National Medical Commission hereby makes the following Regulations to further amend the “Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022”
NMC mentioned that clause 12.3 of the Regulations, under the heading "General Norms regarding Foreign Postgraduate Qualifications for Equivalence", shall be replaced.
The modified rule, as specified by NMC states,
"12.3 In such cases, if he/she has acquired MBBS qualification in India and recognized PG qualification, eligible for registration in India, from any of the five English speaking countries, mentioned in Section 12.1 above, and fulfills the criteria mentioned in Section 12.1, then he/she shall be considered for teaching job in medical college in India, as per Teachers Eligibility qualifications in Medical Institutions regulations-2022 as amended from time to time, depending on his/her teaching experience in medical sciences."
Referring to the modified rules as "Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, (Amendment), 2023", NMC further specified that the modifications shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
To view the TEQ amendment, click on the link below:
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-teq-amendment-notification-207337.pdf
Also Read: TEQ Rules 2022: NMC spells out Foreign PG Medical Qualifications for Equivalence
