FMG Internship in Rajasthan: Around 250 medicos await nod from Medical Council

Jaipur: Around 250 foreign medical graduates from Rajasthan are waiting to start their mandatory internship program for two months. These medicos have already cleared the screening test i.e. Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE).

However, despite approaching the Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC) and the State Medical Education Department, they are yet to receive permission for the mandatory internship.

As per the existing rules, it is mandatory for a medical graduate from abroad to clear the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) and then undergo an internship for one year. It is only after completion of the internship, that the FMGs receive registration to practice as doctors in India. FMGE test was introduced through the Screening Test Regulations, 2002.

Back in 2021, the National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021 and addressed the issue of grant of permanent registration to the FMGs. As per the rules, it is mandatory for the FMGs to undergo twelve months of supervised internship in India.

Regarding the Grant of permanent registration to Foreign Medical Graduate, these rules specify the following:

No foreign medical graduate shall be granted permanent registration, unless he has–

(a) (i) undergone a course leading to foreign medical degree with minimum duration of fifty-four months;

(ii) Undergone an internship for a minimum duration of twelve months in the same foreign medical institution;

(iii) Received a foreign medical degree with medium of instructions in English; and

(iv) studied the mandatory subjects specified in the Schedule-I;

(b) registered with the respective professional regulatory body or otherwise, competent to grant license to practice medicine in their respective jurisdiction of the country in which the medical degree is awarded and at par with the license to practice medicine given to citizen of that country;

(c) undergone supervised internship in India for a minimum term of twelve months, after applying for the same to the Commission; and

(d) has cleared the National Exit Test or such other mandated test or tests conducted by the Commission.

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

There are around 250 FMGs in Rajasthan who have cleared the FMGE examination already. However, a recent media report by the Times of India mentioned that these students are awaiting permission from the Rajasthan Medical Council for Internship for around two months. On the other hand, the doctors alleged that the process for allocating the FMGs to the internship programmes has already started in other States.

Commenting on the matter, a resident of Jaipur, who completed her MBBS from Tbilisi, Georgia told TOI, "We are around 250 students from Rajasthan who have cleared the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) and have been waiting eagerly for two months to begin internship."

"Even after paying multiple visits to RMC and medical education department regarding this matter we haven't received any clear answers," added another medical graduate from Georgia.

Another student mentioned, "We have proved our capability by passing the FMGE exam, and we are eager to serve our country. The process has started in many other states like Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab but it has not happened here."

The crisis regarding allotment of FMGs to internship programme was witnessed earlier this year also. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that due to the scarcity of adequate Internship seats, around 2000 FMG doctors were facing an uncertain future as they will not be able to register/ practice in India without completing the mandatory internship rule of the National Medical Commission (NMC).

In the case of Rajasthan alone, only around 30 percent of the total students, who cleared the mandatory FMGE test in January had secured a seat for Internship. Earlier, Rajasthan Medical Council only held counselling for filling only 399 seats while the state almost has approximately 2,000 FMG internship seats. 966 of the 1,365 exam-qualified candidates were waiting for an internship seat.

Demanding immediate allotment to Compulsory Medical Rotatory Internship (CMRI) programme, the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) in Rajasthan observed an indefinite sit-in protes. A Press release issued by the FMG association had mentioned that the students became forced to commence the protest after their futile attempts to approach Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena a couple of times.

Also Read: FMG Internship in Rajasthan: Students begin Indefinite Sit-in Protest demanding allotment