NMC Relief: FMG Internship Allowed at Non-Teaching Hospitals for 2 More Years

New Delhi: In a major relief to the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), the National Medical Commission (NMC) has allowed them to undergo the mandatory internship at non-teaching hospitals for two more years. The NMC relief comes on the basis of various representations received from Medical Councils and FMGs about facing difficulties in the deployment of FMGs for internship.

Last year, the Apex Medical Commission granted this relief to the FMGs after taking note of the inadequate number of available internship seats, due to which several medical graduates from abroad could not get enrolled in the internship programme despite clearing the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), the mandatory screening test.

Medical Dialogues had reported in May last year that around 2,000 FMG doctors were facing problems getting an internship last year. Back then, issuing a circular, NMC Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) validated the list of 679 Recognized Non-Teaching Hospitals for Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship for a period of one year up to May 2024, for the conduct of Internships FMGs only.

Also Read: NMC allows FMG Internship in 679 Non-Teaching Hospitals as one-time relaxation, details

Referring to its earlier notice, NMC in a recent notice dated 17.05.2024 mentioned, "This is in continuation of earlier Circular No.U.15024/01/2022- UGMEB dated 09.05.2023 wherein it was informed that UGMEB validated the list of recognised non-teaching hospitals for Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship issued by the erstwhile Medical Council of India, for a period of one year i.e. upto May 2024 for conduct of internship for Foreign Medical Graduates only."

Extending the relief for two more years, the notice issued by NMC UGMEB further mentioned,

"On the basis of various representations received from Medical Councils and FMGs regarding facing difficulties in deployment of FMGs for internship, it has now been decided to extend the above time period from May 2024 to May 2026 i.e. for two years. List of Recognised Non-teaching Hospitals for Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship issued by the erstwhile Medical Council of India is available in the NMC website Circular number mentioned above dated 09.05.2023." The list is attached below.

The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) had been writing to NMC seeking permission to conduct FMG internship at the non-teaching hospitals. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last month, DMC wrote a letter in this regard to the President of NMC UG Board, Dr. Aruna V Vanikar. Thereafter, highlighting its suggestions again, the Council recently wrote to NMC member Dr. A K Mohanan.

DMC highlighted that it received applications from 230 individuals who cleared the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), the screening test. However, on the other hand, DMC pointed out that there were only 60 internship seats available in various medical colleges/institutes.

In Rajasthan, this year, 370 medical graduates from abroad, domiciled in Rajasthan, could not be allotted an internship seat despite clearing the FMGE test. This was because of the inadequate number of internship seats.

Also Read: Rajasthan FMG Internship: 766 get allotment, 370 miss the boat

AIMSA Foreign Medical Students' Wing, which has been raising the issues faced by the FMGs, has hailed NMC's decision to extend the permission to conduct the FMG internship at the non-teaching hospitals.

"AIMSA would like to thank NMC for taking the issue of unavailability of seats into consideration especially for FMG students from Delhi Rajasthan Himachal Pradesh and others!" the National Co-Convener of AIMSA FMSW, Dr. Apurva Dalvi told Medical Dialogues.

The All FMGs Association (AFA) recently approached the NMC officials and requested for an extension of the NMC relief. Earlier, the media coordinator from AFA, Dr. Kaushal had explained to Medical Dialogues one of the reasons for the limited number of seats was the 3-year-internship rule implemented by NMC for those who came back to India due to war or pandemic without completing their training.

Hailing the NMC decision, Dr. Kaushal said, "This will solve the issue of inadequate seats as the extension has been granted for two years. Also, several private medical colleges ask for money from the FMGs, so by allowing FMGs to undergo internship at the non-teaching hospitals, this issue will be solved as well to some extent."

To view the NMC notice, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-fmg-internship-238487.pdf

To view the list of non-teaching hospitals recognized for FMG Internship, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/fmg-209268.pdf

Also Read: DMC Advocates for FMG Internship at Non-Teaching Hospitals, Writes to NMC Member