Relaxation granted as one-time measure
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, May 10: To address the challenges faced by Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) awaiting their compulsory Rotating Internship due to seat unavailability, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued directives to States and Union Territories, instructing them to allocate necessary seats to FMGs in recognized non-teaching hospitals.
According to the latest directives, the NMC has taken into consideration the predicament faced by FMGs and decided to validate the list of Recognized Non-teaching Hospitals for Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship, initially issued by the erstwhile Medical Council of India.
This validation will be effective for one year from the date of when the directives have been issued, until May 2024, exclusively for the completion of internships by Foreign Medical Graduates.
To facilitate the process, the NMC has also released a list of Recognized Non-teaching Hospitals for Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship. However, it is important to note that this relaxation is a one-time measure, and the allotment of FMGs in these non-teaching hospitals will be handled solely by the respective State Medical Councils.
The FMGs from J&K are among those who have been affected by the lack of available seats in medical colleges. Out of over 400 FMGs who successfully passed the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), only 230 can be accommodated based on the current seat availability.
Initially, the FMGs from J&K raised this issue with the Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department, which assured them of a prompt resolution. Yashpal Sharma, Director (Coordination), New Government Medical Colleges, had also previously stated that suitable arrangements would be made to accommodate the FMGs.
Further, addressing the concern regarding domicile requirements for internships, the NMC clarified that State Medical Councils must not deny FMGs the opportunity to pursue internships based on their domicile status. “Eligible FMGs can complete their internships in medical colleges located in any State or Union Territory.”
The NMC has emphasized that if an FMG has already completed the first year of their internship in any medical college in India, they are permitted to finish the remaining period of their internship (2nd year) in another medical college, state, or union territory, subject to seat availability for FMGs.
The apex medical body has not, however, approved or validated medical qualifications, both theoretical and practical, solely through online methods. But, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, online classes conducted by medical colleges/institutions in India were deemed acceptable, provided they were supplemented with practical and clinical training as per the current curriculum, in collaboration with affiliated hospitals.
Regarding the issue of stipend payment to FMGs, the NMC stated that in a circular dated May 19, 2022, all Directorates of Medical Education and State Medical Councils were directed to ensure that medical colleges/institutes do not charge any internship fees from Indian and Foreign Medical Graduates. Additionally, stipends and other facilities should be provided to FMGs at par with Indian Medical Graduates in the respective states and union territories.
All State Medical Councils and Directorates of Medical Education have been asked to ensure the implementation of the guidelines/instructions while allocating medical colleges to FMGs.
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