FMGs Returning to India in Final Year Must Serve 3-Year Internship: NMC's Decision Sparks Debate

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The NMC's directive on FMGs faces opposition as FAIMA appeals for a reconsideration, highlighting concerns about the academic journey of those returning to India in their penultimate year. Check details below.

FMGs Returning to India in Final Year Must Serve 3-Year Internship

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission's regulation, requiring Foreign Medical Graduates who returned to India during their penultimate year to complete a 3-year Internship and Clinical Clerkship, faces significant opposition within the medical community.

Expressing concern, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has written to the Chairman of the NMC, urging a review of the decision, taking into account the academic trajectory of these international medical graduates.

The association has expressed its view that a three-year unpaid internship would result in a significant academic setback for these medical students, leading to financial difficulties. In a letter dated December 7, 2023, the association pointed out that Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), being fellow citizens, may face adverse effects on their mental well-being and academic journey due to such rules.

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Further, the association proposed that the existing entrance exam and one-year internship adequately assess their quality, knowledge, skills in the subject, and patient care management.

FAIMA's letter is in response to the NMC clarification issued on November 22, 2023. It was previously reported that NMC, through a public notice last month, addressed various concerns related to Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs).

These issues included the Academic Mobility Programme, topics like clinical clerkship, mandatory completion of the CRMI program, clerkship fees, stipend during CRMI, etc., particularly for FMGs who came back from Ukraine after finishing their medical course, or were in their final or penultimate year.

During that period, when discussing Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who experienced interruptions in their Final year and returned to India due to the COVID pandemic or war, the NMC stated that the current FMGs undergoing internship should be permitted to complete their two years before receiving permanent registration from the State Medical Council.

The NMC also addressed the situations of FMGs who faced interruptions in their Penultimate year of study due to the COVID pandemic or war and completed their FMG course, including examinations, solely through online means.

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Regarding such students, the NMC specified that the existing FMGs, if any, currently undergoing internship, may be allowed to continue with one year of internship. Subsequently, they can undertake one year of clinical clerkship and one year of internship (amounting to a total of three years) before obtaining Permanent Registration from the concerned State Medical Council.

Hence, these students are mandated to complete a total of three years, comprising clinical clerkship and internship. In response to this, FAIMA communicated with the Chairman of the NMC, expressing opposition to the decision, highlighting that a three-year non-stipend internship would significantly set back the academic progress of the students and pose financial challenges.

Urging the Commission to review its decision, the association appealed in the letter that they respectfully request the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board and Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the National Medical Commission to kindly reconsider the public notice released, taking into account the academic journey of the affected students.

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Meanwhile, on December 07, 2023, the NMC issued another Public Notice. Addressing Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who returned to India in their Penultimate year, it stated that current FMGs undergoing internship should be allowed to continue to complete their three (3) years before receiving permanent registration from the State Medical Council.

FAIMA has opposed the necessity of a three-year clinical clerkship for such medical professionals. Dr. Rohan Krishnan, the National Chairman of FAIMA, commented on the issue, saying that they have reviewed the circular released by the NMC. Initially, the internship period was one year, later extended to two years, and now it has been further increased to three years. He, further, added that the two-year policy could have been acceptable due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which classes were conducted online.

However, they find the three-year internship program unacceptable because the entire course duration is four and a half years, plus a one-year internship, Krishnan added. Extending the internship to three years would constitute nearly 70-80 percent of the overall course, they consider it an unfavorable decision by the National Medical Commission.

Consequently, they have formally requested the Commission in their letter to revert to a two-year internship program. Since doctors who pass the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination only secure internships in colleges, they believe that adopting a two-year internship program would be more suitable for the government, he further explained.

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