No vacancies in GMCs, Kerala FMGs await internship
FMG Internship
Thiruvananthapuram: Around 425 Kerala-based medical graduates from abroad, who have completed MBBS from foreign countries, including China and Russia, are awaiting the mandatory internship even though they have already cleared the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) screening test.
Kerala Kaumudi has reported that these medicos are allegedly being denied any opportunity to commence their internship on the grounds that there are no vacancies in the government medical colleges.
As per the existing rules, FMGs can apply for the mandatory internships only after clearing the screening test, i.e., FMGE. It is only after completing the mandatory internship at a State medical collge, the medical graduates from abroad can get permanent registration with the Medical Council and start working.
However, in Kerala, those who have passed the examination till December 2024 are still waiting for the government's mercy. Therefore, even those students, who studied by taking bank loans have not been able to complete their internship, even though it is time to start repaying.
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According to the rules by the National Medical Commission, 7.5% of internships in medical colleges in the State should be used to accommodate foreign medical graduates is also not being followed.
As per the latest media report by Kerala Kaumudi, FMGs in Kerala are being denied internship as there are no vacancies in government medical colleges. Meanwhile, internship opportunities will be available in private medical colleges in the State if the State Government intervenes. However, allegedly, the State Government is not taking any initiative for that either. Some of the private medical colleges have taken the stand that they will provide internships only if the graduates pay the fees. Meanwhile, the students are facing problems in arranging the money for internships in addition to the cost of studying.
FMGs in Kerala, who studied MBBS online during COVID period and the Ukraine war have to complete an additional year of clerkship as well before commencing the internship. As per Kerala Kaumudi around 200 people in Kerala are waiting for clerkship opportunities. Special consideration was given to those, who wanted to do clerkship in all other States. However, it was not given in Kerala.
Commenting on the matter, Dr. Ranjith. C.R, Secretary of the Association of Doctors and Medical Students, told the Daily, "If internship is not available in Kerala, students will have to depend on other states. Many cannot do that."
