NMC grants FMGL 2021 exemption to foreign BS students admitted online, mandates extra internship
National Medical Commission
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has recently clarified that medical aspirants who were admitted to the BS course in the medical institutes abroad before the publication of the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021 (FMGL 2021) dated 18.11.2021 through online mode will receive the NMC exemption.
In a recent notice, the Apex Medical Commission has clarified that such students shall be governed by the Screening Test Regulation, 2002. However, to ensure adequate clinical exposure and for maintaining uniform standards in medical education and practice, the Commission has made one additional year of internship mandatory for these students.
In the FMGL 2021 Regulations, NMC had mentioned that no foreign medical graduates shall be granted permanent registration, unless he/she has undergone a course leading to a foreign medical degree with a minimum duration of fifty-four months.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that offering major relief to the Foreign Medical Students in the Philippines, NMC in its notice dated 07.12.2023 declared that the students who were studying the BS Course or had taken admission to the said course and were pursuing their studies physically in the medical institute abroad at the time of publication of FMGL Regulation 2021, will be allowed to continue their medical education.
While providing this one-time exemption specific to such students, the Apex Medical Commission has also clarified that such students will have to undergo an additional year of internship as per the CRMI Regulation, 2021.
"Students who were studying BS Course or had taken admission in BS course and were physically studying in Foreign Medical Institute at the time of publication of FMGL Regulation 2021 dated 18.11.2021 shall be governed by old Screening Test Regulation, 2002 however such students shall have to undergo additional one year of internship as per CRMI Regulation, 2021," NMC UG Board mentioned in the notice dated 07.12.2023.
Now, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of NMC has issued a corrigendum in this regard and clarified that even such students who were studying the BS course through online mode shall receive such exemption.
Referring to the notice dated 07.12.2023, NMC mentioned, "In continuation to the Public Notice No.U-15024/9/2023-UGMEB dated 07.12.2023 and in consideration of various representations received from the stakeholders with respect to point no. 2 of the aforementioned Public Notice -which states that "Students who were studying BS Course or had taken admission in BS course and were physically studying in Foreign Medical Institute at the time of publication of FMGL Regulation 2021 dated 18.11.2021", the National Medical Commission (NMC) in its meeting dated 16.12.2025 has deliberated on the issue..."
The UG Board of NMC further added that "it is hereby clarified that students who had taken admission in the BS Course or who were studying BS Course in a Foreign Medical Institutes,either through online mode or in physical mode, prior to the publication of Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021 (FMGL, 2021) dated 18.11.2021, shall be governed by Screening Test Regulation, 2002, however such students shall have to undergo additional one year of internship in India. This is to ensure adequate clinical exposure to the Indian healthcare system, alignment with national treatment protocols, and adherence to prescribed standards of patient care, thereby safeguarding public health and maintaining uniform standards in medical education and practice. This shall be one time exemption specific to such students only."
It added that all other contents of the Public Notice dated 07.12.2023 and subsequent clarifications shall remain unchanged.
Referring to the Corrigendum issued by UGMEB, the NMC Secretary wrote to the Principal/Dean of all the medical colleges/medical institutes in India and mentioned, "Please find enclosed herewith Corrigendum No. U-15024/9/2023-UGMEB dated 30-12-2025 issued by the Under Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of National Medical Commission (NMC) being in continuation to its Public Notice No. U-15024/9/2023-UGMEB dated 07.12.2023, inter-alia clarifying that students who had taken admission in the BS Course or who were studying BS Course in a Foreign Medical Institutes, either through online mode or in physical mode, prior to the publication of Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021 (FMGL, 2021) dated 18.11.2021, shall be governed by Screening Test Regulation, 2002; however such students shall have to undergo additional one year of internship in India to ensure adequate clinical exposure & for maintaning uniform standards in medical education and practice. All other contents of the Public Notice dated 07.12.2023 and subsequent clarifications shall remain unchanged. This shall be a one-time exemption specific to such students only."
To view the order, click on the link below:
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-ugmeb-fmgl-notice-318260.pdf
Also Read: NMC Releases FAQs related to issues faced by Foreign Medical Graduates, Check Details
