Despite low FMGE passing rate, Indian students continue to pick Russia for MBBS

Despite low FMGE passing rate, Indian students continue to pick Russia for MBBS

Several Russian medical colleges have partnered with Indian education providers to give coaching to FMGs for licensure examination

Divyansh.Kumar@timesofindia.com 29.09.2025 

TIMES EDUCATION

Despite low success rates in the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) and war-related tension, thousands of Indian students head to Russian medical colleges every year. Affordability and admissions to candidates with low NEET scores are the primary reasons for Indian aspirants going abroad. The number of Indian students visiting Russia has increased from 8,000 in 2021 to nearly 32,000 in 2024. 

At a recent pre-departure gathering, nearly 300 medical aspirants bound for Russia hailed the practical supports, low tuition and hostel fee, which led most students to opt for Russia. “I am planning to study MBBS in Russia because it is cheaper than other countries and private MBBS in India,” said 21-year-old Bhavani Pooja from Gangavati, Karnataka, who will complete her six year course in Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakh, which is a fraction of what she would have spent pursuing MBBS at a private college in India.

Most students, including Bhavani, are not aware of the licensure exam that Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) need to clear after they return to India. The average FMGE pass percentage for Russian medical varsities was 18.13% in 2023, which rose to 29.54% across more than 50 listed Russian institutions in 2024. 

In contrast, Tanushree Rathore, 19, from Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, who will attend Orenburg State Medical University, was fully informed. “There are so many reasons to study in Russia, including the high-quality education provided by the university I am going to,” she said, estimating the total fee of approximately Rs 36 lakh and an additional Rs 2.6 lakh per year for food and other expenses.

Tanushree was least concerned about the ongoing war as her college in Orenburg is far from the conflict zone. Overseas Mentorship Dr Priyansh Jain, MD, General Medicine and a faculty member for NEET PG and FMGE, Rus Education, emphasises that the success in the exam hinges on early and sustained effort. “Identifying the demand to pass FMGE after course completion, several medical colleges in Russia proactively decided to offer FMGE coaching to help the students right from the first semester.” The data on FMGE pass percentages is skewed, says Dr Jain. “The 18% to 20% FMGE pass rate is not realistic data. Many repeaters have been attempting the exam for five to 10 years. They take the exam for the sake of it, without proper preparation. In all, 8,000 to 10,000 new students attempting for the first or second time manage to pass the exam,” he adds. Medical faculty in India can collaborate with foreign institutions to give guest lectures and remote mentoring to support students while they are abroad. “Even a one-hour weekly online case discussion or guest lecture from Indian faculty can keep students aligned with the Indian curriculum. 

Remote mentorship and virtual practical training sessions may reduce the shock of FMGE preparation when they return home,” adds Dr Jain. Officials, however, point to structural mismatches. A senior official at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), who wishes to remain anonymous, says that average FMGE pass rates have improved from single digits to nearly 19%20% recently, but the situation remains worrisome. “The students often are not well prepared for the FMGE as they mostly opt for online coaching. At times, they lack basic knowledge. After returning, students realise the enormity of FMGE and find it difficult to pass,” he says, noting that the mode of teaching and clinical exposure contribute to the difficulty. The official adds that the National Board of Examination for Medical Sciences (NBEMS) publishes countrywise annual FMGE pass percentages on its website; hence, students must make an informed decision.

While the quality of theoretical education in Russia is generally acknowledged, clinicians and regulators agree that the main curriculum mismatch lies in practical training. Lt-Gen (Retd) Dr Bipin Puri, director, Medical Services (North Zone), Apollo Group of Hospitals and former director-general, Armed Forces Medical Services, says, “The biggest gap is that these children who are trained outside do not get much clinical exposure as they largely get classroom-based learning. These students, when they return, still require extensive coaching and training to understand the nuances of the Indian medical system. Medicine is learned when you interact with a patient, treat them, and understand their condition.”

Amid viral CHED notice, govt urges students to verify medical education norms in Philippines

Amid viral CHED notice, govt urges students to verify medical education norms in Philippines 

Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com  04.08.2025

Following the recent notification floating on the internet, claiming to be from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines, which stated that its Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme complies with the eligibility criteria outlined by National Medical Commission (NMC) in India, under the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021, there has been a noticeable interest among aspiring students. The health ministry has warned the students to be watchful of the official notice before enrolling in medical colleges in the Philippines. The ministry noticed that academic consultants are promoting the Philippines as an NMC-recognised destination to pursue medical studies, many of them refraining from giving complete information and offering false assurances regarding eligibility for the FMGE or NExT exams in India. However, it is important to note that due to existing provisions under the Philippine Medical Act of 1959, the validity of CHED’s notice dated July 15, 2025, remains uncertain and does not give clarity on its eligibility in India. 

Speaking to Education Times on the condition of anonymity, an official from the Union health ministry says, “Any student who completes their medical graduation from a country that fully complies with the FMGL Regulations, 2021, will automatically be eligible to appear for the Indian medical licensing exam. There is no need for the NMC to issue a separate notification in such cases. However, students are strongly advised to carefully review the regulatory requirements before choosing to study Medicine abroad.” A notice dated July 15, 2025, came to light after a law firm, Sarmiento Delson and Dacanay Law Offices, located in Quezon City of Philippines, requested to issue a statement confirming that CHED accredited medical schools are compliant with the Indian regulations. However, no such notice is found on the official CHED website.

A second-year MD student from Amravati, Maharashtra, studying at Emilio Aguinaldo College, Manila, Philippines, says, “There are over 500 Indian students in my university alone, and some larger universities have thousands of Indian students pursuing medical courses. After the FMGL Regulations 2021, NMC closed the doors on us to return to India as practicing doctors. The only hope to make this degree useful is by clearing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or the Australian Medical Council exam (AMC). Considering the limited job opportunities in the UK, I am not opting for it. Even staying in the Philippines is not an option for Indians due to the ‘reciprocity’ provision under the Philippine Medical Act of 1959.” 

Under the reciprocity provision of the Philippine Medical Act of 1959, a foreigner may be allowed to practice medicine in the Philippines without passing the Physicians Licensure Examination (PLE) if the foreigner’s home country grants citizens of the Philippines the same privilege under similar conditions. The notice available online states, “All holders of an MD degree from the Philippines, regardless of nationality or citizenship, may obtain a valid license to practice in countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, and others, without needing to appear for the PLE in the Philippines, subject to passing appropriate examinations and meeting other requirements in those respective countries.”

தரமற்ற வெளிநாட்டுப் பல்கலை.களில் பயிலும் மருத்துவக் கல்வி செல்லாது: தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையம்

தரமற்ற வெளிநாட்டுப் பல்கலை.களில் பயிலும் மருத்துவக் கல்வி செல்லாது: தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையம்

பெலீஸ் மற்றும் உஸ்பெகிஸ்தானில் உள்ள 4 மருத்துவப் பல்கலை.களில் மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளில் சேருவதை இந்திய மாணவா்கள் தவிா்க்க வேண்டும்

தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையம் (என்எம்சி) Din Updated on: 22 ஜூலை 2025, 4:25 am

சென்னை: மத்திய அமெரிக்க நாடுகளில் ஒன்றான பெலீஸ் மற்றும் உஸ்பெகிஸ்தானில் உள்ள 4 மருத்துவப் பல்கலை.களில் மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளில் சேருவதை இந்திய மாணவா்கள் தவிா்க்க வேண்டும் என்று தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையம் (என்எம்சி) அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளது.

இந்திய கல்வித் தரம் மற்றும் விதிகளுக்குள்படாத வெளிநாட்டுக் கல்லூரிகளில் பயிலும் மருத்துவப் படிப்புகள் செல்லத்தக்கவை அல்ல என்றும் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

இது தொடா்பாக என்எம்சி இளநிலைக் கல்வி வாரிய இயக்குநா் சுக்லால் மீனா வெளியிட்ட அறிவிப்பு:

வெளிநாடுகளில் மருத்துவக் கல்வி பயிலும் இந்திய மாணவா்களுக்கு ஏற்கெனவே சில வழிகாட்டுதல்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. அதன்படி, படிப்பின் காலம், பயிற்று மொழி, பாடத் திட்டம், மருத்துவப் பயிற்சி மற்றும் உள்ளுறைப் பயிற்சி ஆகியவை இந்தியத் தரத்துடன் ஒத்துப்போகாதபட்சத்தில், அந்தப் பட்டப் படிப்பு இந்தியாவில் செல்லாது எனத் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அதன்படி, கல்வித் தரம், கட்டமைப்பு, பயிற்சித் தரம் இல்லாமல் சில பல்கலை.கள் வெளிநாடுகளில் இயங்குகின்றன. தவிர, இந்திய மாணவா்களைத் துன்புறுத்துவதும், அதிக கட்டணம் வசூலிப்பதும், படிப்பைக் கைவிட்டால் கட்டணத்தைத் திருப்பி அளிக்காமல் இருப்பதும் அங்கு நிகழ்கின்றன.

இதையடுத்து, பெலீஸில் உள்ள சென்ட்ரல் அமெரிக்கன் ஹெல்த் அண்ட் சயின்ஸ் யுனிவா்சிட்டி, கொலம்பஸ் சென்ட்ரல் யுனிவா்சிட்டி, வாஷிங்டன் யுனிவா்சிட்டி ஆஃப் ஹெல்த் அண்ட் சயின்ஸ், உஸ்பெகிஸ்தானில் உள்ள கிா்சிக் பிரான்ச் ஆஃப் தாஸ்கண்ட் ஸ்டேட் மெடிக்கல் யுனிவா்சிட்டி ஆகிய 4 பல்கலை.களில் சேருவதை தவிா்க்குமாறு இந்திய மாணவா்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தல் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதேபோல பிற நாடுகளில் இந்திய விதிகளைப் பின்பற்றாத பல்கலை.களிலும் சேரக் கூடாது. அங்கு பயிலும் மருத்துவப் படிப்புகள் செல்லத்தக்கவை அல்ல என்பதை உணா்ந்து செயல்பட வேண்டும் என்று அதில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

APMC asks FMGs to wait for NMC clarication on internship duration

APMC asks FMGs to wait for NMC clarication on internship duration 

The guidelines issued by the NMC in November 2023 have been adhered to, it insists; support pours in for FMGs from various associations and political parties 

Published - July 05, 2025 06:34 pm IST -VIJAYAWADA 

THE HINDU BUREAU 

ForeignMedical Graduates during their  recent protest in Vijayawada. 

(APMC) Chairman Sreehari Rao and Registrar I. Ramesh have clarified that the council is following the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines. The FMGs had staged protests for four days from Monday last, demanding that the process of issuing PRs to them, pending for more than a year, be expedited. 

The delay is due to different interpretations of the guidelines issued by the NMC with regard to the duration of internship for the FMGs who have done a part of their course online during the pandemic. In a statement on July 4, the APMC Chairman and Registrar had said that the FMGs who had gone back to their universities in other countries were first allotted one-year internship.

 The NMC guidelines, released in November 2023, had come into effect later, they said. As per the guidelines, those who studied the penultimate year and final year of their medical courses online due to the pandemic should undergo two years of clerkship. This should be followed by one year of internship to make-up for the offline training. 

As per the November 2023 guidelines, if the FMGs studied online in their final year only, then they should undergo one year of clerkship and one year of internship. Accordingly, orders were issued to the principals of all medical colleges to communicate the same to the FMGs, they said. 

The APMC Chairman further said that some FMGs who had a problem with the two and three-year internship duration approached the A.P. High Court, which said that all the rules issued by the Centre and NMC should be followed. Later, an FMG had filed an appeal, the judgment for which was expected. Even while the matter was sub judice, a few FMGs had staged protests, they pointed out. 

Mr. Sreehari Rao and Mr. Ramesh said that Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, who had taken note of the issue, instructed the APMC to schedule an appointment with the NMC and seek a solution to the problem. 

“The FMGs are not convinced and insist on continuing their agitation despite the Minister’s assurance,” the statement said. The APMC had, in its council meeting on June 17, decided to issue PRs for all those with valid compensation certificates from their parent universities. 

The graduates, at their wits’ end, began their silent protest when they felt the process was being delayed once again. Regarding the compensation certificates, Mr. Sreehari Rao and Mr. Ramesh added that these were “not justified” for their period of online study with offline study. 

They said the internship for two years was justified because the compensation certificates did not specify the period of online study. The Chairman appealed to the FMGs to wait till the NMC clarified the issue.

Support for FMGs 

Meanwhile, support started pouring for the beleagured FMGs from many medical associations and parties, including the CPI. All India Medical Students’ Association’s Foreign Medical Graduates’ wing released a statement expressing its support for the FMGs and condemning the alleged highhandedness of the police while taking protesting FMGs to police stations. 

Telangana Junior Doctors’ Association, too, expressed its support to their A.P. counterparts. A.P. The Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes’ Association criticised the APMC for refusing to issue PRs for 13 months, and added that the issue should be resolved at the earliest as the delay was causing mental distress among the FMGs. 

The Bharatiya Human Rights Council, a registered organisation, had written to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu demanding justice for the FMGs and abolition of “arbitrary” allotment of 2-3 years of internship for the FMGs. They demanded that the NMC guidelines, which other States were following, be followed in toto. 

NMC guidelines on foreign medical graduates binding on State Medical Council, says Health Minister Satya Kumar

NMC guidelines on foreign medical graduates binding on State Medical Council, says Health Minister Satya Kumar

“The Registrar of the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council does not have any independent authority to modify the NMC guidelines issued from time to time,” Satya Kumar Yadav said

Published - March 05, 2025 03:00 am IST - VIJAYAWADA

G.V.R. Subba Rao

Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav has asserted that the State government has to adhere to the guidelines issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs).

“The Registrar of the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council does not have any independent authority to modify the NMC guidelines issued from time to time,” Mr. Satya Kumar said on Tuesday (March 4, 2025).

“As per the NMC guidelines, the FMGs who studied online during their final year should have to do two years of internship (one year is clinical clerkship and one year is internship), and those who studied online during both penultimate and final years must complete three years of internship (two years will be clinical clerkship and one year internship), the Minister said in the Legislative Assembly.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLAs Pusapati Aditi Vijayalakshmi Gajapathi Raju, Nelavala Vijayasree, and Gondu Sankara Rao served a notice under Rule 74 calling the attention of the Minister on ‘Problems of foreign medical graduates’.

The Minister, making a statement, said some FMGs who returned to India due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War, and studied part of their MBBS course online, had requested the A.P. Medical Council to grant Permanent Registration after completing one year of internship as per the compensation certificates issued by the respective universities and also as per the NMC guidelines, he said.

After verification of the compensation letters submitted by the FMGs, it was found that they did not mention the period of online study and the period of compensation of online study with offline mode.

Hence, the A.P. Medical Council did not consider their applications for Permanent Registration, and they were directed to continue their Internship for a period of one more year to make-up for the loss of clinical training due to online study. But they ignored the orders of the A.P. Medical Council, the Minister said.

For FMGs who completed the entire course in the offline mode by staying abroad, Permanent Registrations were being granted after completion of one year of Internship in Andhra Pradesh.

A Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) is a one-year programme that the FMGs must complete in India after obtaining provisional registration from the State Medical Council. “The A.P. Medical Council is continuously communicating with the NMC for necessary instructions regarding the issues raised by the FMGs,” he added.

Published - March 05, 2025 03:00 am IST

Must clear NEET-UG to pursue medical courses abroad: SC

Must clear NEET-UG to pursue medical courses abroad: SC

21.02.2025

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has refused to interfere with a 2018 decision of Medical Council of India (MCI) mandating qualication in NEET as an eligibility criterion to pursue an undergraduate medical course in a foreign institution.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K Vinod Chandran said introducing National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) qualication criterion ensures a fair and transparent procedure in the grant of eligibility certicate, and the regulation does not in any manner conict with the law. 

It said, "We find absolutely no reason to interfere with the regulations, in which context, the learned counsel sought for a one-time exemption as applicable to the petitioners. Obviously, afer the amended regulations came into effect, if any candidate chose to obtain admission in a foreign institution for pursuing a course   leading to a primary medical qualication, they cannot seek for an exemption from the regulations.. This does not restrict their right to practice anywhere outside India." "The regulations, especially additional mandate to satisfy the eligibility criteria, is not ultra vires the Constitution and neither is it in conict with any provisions of the Act (Indian Medical Council Act) nor arbitrary or unreasonable. Hence, all the petitions are dismissed," the bench said.

FMGE certificates of 3 medicos revoked

FMGE certificates of 3 medicos revoked 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 04.02.2025

Ahmedabad : The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has ordered the revocation of foreign medical graduate exam (FMGE) certificates of eight medical students for submitting false information. The students include three from Gujarat (two from Anand and one from Ahmedabad), two from Karnataka, and one each from Delhi, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. All of them graduated from LLC Caucasus International University in Georgia. 

The board has directed state medical councils to immediately cancel these candidates’ practice registrations. According to the Jan 27 order, these candidates appeared for FMGE in Dec 2022 or June 2023 and provided fraudulent provisional documentation of their medical courses. The FMGE eligibility requires completion of a six-year medical programme, including an internship from Semesters 6 to 12.

Investigation revealed discrepancies between the subjects listed in their provisional documentation and the actual sixth-year curriculum. Sources said these candidates submitted provisional certificates without completing their mandatory internships. The NBEMS is expected to investigate similar cases where foreign medical students may have submitted provisional certificates without fulfilling the internship requirement

Foreign MBBS graduates challenge extended internship rule in HC

Foreign MBBS graduates challenge extended internship rule in HC

22.01.2025

Bhopal/Jabalpur : A division bench of the MP High Court has issued notices to respondents in response to a petition filed by a group of MBBS pass-outs from China. They challenged the state govt's decision to extend the period of internship for students who completed their MBBS from foreign universities to three years instead of two. The principal secretary of medical education, director of medical education, National Medical Education Council, and MP Medical Council are respondents to the petition. 

The petition, filed by eight MBBS passouts, stated that they completed their MBBS in China. During the Covid pandemic, they studied online, which was also true for students pursuing MBBS from Indian universities. According to the rules, the internship period for MBBS pass-outs from Indian universities is one year, and for those from foreign universities, it is two years. However, the MP Medical Council, by an order issued on Nov 4, 2024, extended the internship period for MBBS pass-outs from foreign universities to three years. In Nov 2023, they were informed that the internship period would be two years, and as such, their internship would have ended in Mar 2025. They contended that introducing a new rule with retrospective effect was illegal. Following initial arguments, the bench of Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice Anuradha Shukla issued notices to the respondents seeking a response. Senior Counsel Arvind Sanghi appeared in the case for the petitioners. TNN 

MBBS student challenges exam failure in HC 

Bhopal/Jabalpur : A division bench of the MP High Court has issued notices to respondents in a petition filed by an MBBS student at Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, Jabalpur. The student is challenging the decision of MP Medical University, Jabalpur, to fail him in the MBBS first-year exam despite attaining 40 per cent marks. The petitioner, Shoaib Khan from Barwani, stated that he was suffering from a serious illness and has failed the MBBS first-year exam three times already. Failure on the fourth occasion would result in his expulsion from the medical college. TNN

Visa firm sends 2 to Philippines for dud MBBS degree

Visa firm sends 2 to Philippines for dud MBBS degree 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 01.01.2025

Ahmedabad : A Viratnagar businessman, aged 50, was allegedly defrauded of Rs 27.18 lakh by four individuals from a visa consultancy firm who allegedly arranged for his son and nephew to study MBBS in the Philippines despite the degree not being recognised for practice in India. The victim on Monday filed a complaint with Nikol police against owners of the firm and three others, alleging forgery and breach of trust. In 2022, the businessman had sought admission for his son and nephew at Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan City, Philippines, and approached a local visa consultancy where he met the managers. The management team, including a woman, presented a fee structure for the MBBS course in Manila, Philippines, quoting Rs 17.50 lakh for each student, with additional charges for accommodation, food, visa extensions and miscellaneous expenses. After agreeing to send both students, the family received offer letters confirming admission. Before the students’ departure, the consultancy collected Rs 9.5 lakh as course fees. In Feb 2023, after the programme commenced, the students discovered that the MBBS qualification from the Philippines was not valid in India due to licensing restric tions. The family later learned that whilst they were told the course would last five and ahalf years, the college indicated a sevenyear duration. 

Despite raising concerns, the consultant allegedly continued making false promises and provided written confirmation that the Dagupan City Lyceum Northwestern University certificate would be recognised in India. Upon consulting the Indian Embassy, the family confirmed that Philippines-issued practice licences were invalid in India. When the family requested the students’ return due to the course’s non-recognition in India, the consultant informed them that college fees were non-refundable. A complaint was filed on Monday

Philippine Medical Act amendment bill brings hope to Indian medical students

Philippine Medical Act amendment bill brings hope to Indian medical students

As per NMC, BS and MD programs are two separate degrees and thus cannot be equated to the MBBS course in India.

Ayushi Gupta | Posted December 23, 2024 02:00 PM

The amendment bill for the Philippine Medical Act, 1959 was recently passed in the lower house – House of Representatives in the Philippines – with a majority of vote counts (184-3-0) and now awaits clearance at the upper house – Senate – mandatory for a bill to become an act. The amendment bill allows foreign nationals to practice locally under the condition of 'reciprocity' or by qualifying Physicians Licensure Examination (PLE). This has brought hope to several Indian medical students in the Philippines, as this will allow them to return to India as practicing doctors after passing the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam (FMGE). However, students will have to wait for the National Medical Commission (NMC) to respond officially to the change.

The amendment bill will be presented in the upper house in January 2025. Indian medical aspirants planning to move to the Philippines for affordable medical education are keeping their fingers crossed. This also depends on the NMC, which will make the final decision after the bill is cleared in the Congress of the Philippines.

Curriculum parity

NMC has clarified that BS and MD courses are two separate degrees in the Philippines, which cannot be equated to the MBBS course in India. Dr B Srinivas, secretary, NMC, says, "India will examine the medical curriculum and duration of the programme. We will assess whether the curriculum follows the same quality parameters as the Indian medical system. Only if there is parity in the MBBS curriculum between the two countries, the facilitation measures to enable the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) to appear for FMGE will be considered.”

Stranded careers

On November 18, 2021, the NMC introduced the FMGL Regulations, 2021. The regulations outlined the requirements for FMGs seeking to practice in India. Following this, on December 8, 2021, the Embassy of India in Manila issued an advisory for Indian students studying medicine in the Philippines, which highlighted that only students who were admitted for the Doctor of Medicine (MD) course in the Philippines before November 18 , 2021, would be considered eligible for registration to practice medicine in India after passing FMGE.

In 2022, a writ petition was filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the FMGL Regulations, 2021, by a student studying in the Philippines. The petition sought an exemption for the student (petitioner) affected by the new regulations. It argued, “The petitioner is an undergraduate Bachelor of Science (BS)-MD student in the Philippines. (The BS-MD course in the Philippines is a 4.5 to 5-year program combining a BS degree with an MD degree.) After completing the BS Biology course during the academic year 2020-21, the petitioner was enrolled in the MD program at the same university. The FMGL Regulations, 2021, have adversely impacted the petitioner's career, along with those of many other Indian students admitted during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years."

The advisory issued by the Embassy of India further clarified that the NMC has now formally confirmed that the bridging BS course (equivalent to pre-med in the USA) of 1.5-2 years before the MD course will not be included in calculating the total duration of the medical course.

A second-year MD student from Maharashtra studying at Emilio Aguinaldo College, Manila, Philippines says, “There are around 500 Indian students in my university alone, and some larger universities have thousands of Indian students pursuing medical courses. If Congress of the Philippines enacts this amendment into law, it will significantly benefit the students. However, the future of medical graduates in India depends on the NMC's decision—whether we will be allowed to take the FMGE/NExT exam and practice medicine in India. We sincerely hope that the NMC grants a one-time exemption for students who enrolled in BS Biology or similar pre-medical courses as a pathway to the MD program before November 18, 2021.”

The overall pass percentage of students from the Philippines appearing in FMGE has been relatively better than in other countries. In the FMGE June 2024 session, a significant number of high scorers were from medical colleges in the Philippines.

Ayyalraj Nitish Babu, a medical student from Tamil Nadu studying at Davao Medical School Foundation, Philippines says, “The medical education system of the Philippines follows the American pattern. All exams are based on multiple-choice questions (MCQs), with an average passing grade of 75%. Final grades are calculated by combining scores from lab exams, attendance, minor exams, and major exams. This approach ensures that students must study consistently throughout the semester and cannot rely solely on last-minute preparation for final exams. This rigorous system makes it particularly beneficial for students aspiring to take international exams such as the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB).”

NMC warns students eyeing pvt medical colleges abroad

NMC warns students eyeing pvt medical colleges abroad

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesofindia.com 02.12.2024

New Delhi : National Medical Commission (NMC) has warned aspiring students against choosing to study in private medical colleges abroad that do not adhere to regulations laid down by it. In 2021, NMC published Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiates (FMGL) Regulations. It states that no foreign medical graduate shall be granted registration to practice in India unless she or he has undergone a course leading to foreign medical degree with a minimum duration of 54 months and an internship for a minimum duration of 12 months in the same foreign medical institution.

The NMC regulation also stated that the entire course, training and internship or clerkship, shall be done outside India in the same foreign medical institution throughout the course of study and no part of medical training and internship shall be done in India or in any country other than the country from where the primary medical qualification is obtained. As Indian students continued to seek admission in noncomplying colleges abroad, NMC has issued another warning. “Any variation in duration, medium of instructions, syllabus, clinical training or internship may lead to disqualification in grant of registration in India,” the NMC said.

Indian students in Nepal get licence to practice

Indian students in Nepal get licence to practice 

Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com 19.11.2024

After several weeks of tussle, the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) issued an official notification declaring that all international medical students in the country are now eligible to obtain a licence to practice in local hospitals. The announcement comes as welcome news to Indian students planning to pursue medical education in Nepal. 

In April 2023, the NMC had scrapped the licence to practice in Nepal for international students after the completion of MBBS course in the medical colleges. Following this, several Indian medical students had decided against studying in Nepalese medical colleges due to the lack of compliance with India’s Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021. With the recent NMC notification, students are relieved and are moving forward with their admissions.

The deadline to submit the course fees and complete the admission process is November 14, 2024. The official notification states, “The Nepal Medical Council (NMC) recognizes undergraduate degrees, including MBBS/BDS and equ ivalent courses with a minimum academic duration of 5.5 years, which includes a mandatory one-year internship. All foreign nationals are eligible to take the licensing examinations according to NMC Regulations. Upon passing the licensing examinations, foreign candidates can obtain a license equivalent to that of Nepalese citizens. This licensing procedure does not require a good standing certificate from the candidate’s home country council.” The notice also mentioned that NMC grants provisional registration to all MBBS/BDS students in Nepal during their internship period. 

According to NMC internship guidelines, students must complete their internship in hospitals affiliated to their respective medical colleges. This provisional registration is at par with that of Nepalese citizens, allowing both Nepali and international students equal opportunities to practise medicine. The Global Medical Society (GMS), an association representing Indian MBBS students in Nepal, expressed appreciation for the recent NMC notice, which has provided reassurance to students from previous MBBS and BDS batches in Nepal.

Students must have adequate information on med practice regulations in Georgia

Students must have adequate information on med practice regulations in Georgia

Several aspirants are being misguided as consultants withhold crucial Georgian government rules on the independent practice licence, which is granted after nine years of education in the country

Byline: Ayushi.Gupta1 @timesofindia.com 16.09.2024 

Medical students aspiring to study in Georgia must acquire complete information on the ground rules related to practising as a doctor after completion of the medical course. NMC has been continuously discouraging students from getting medical education abroad citing the substandard education quality.

However, several study-abroad agents/counsellors have been taking advantage of gullible students and their parents. They often withhold crucial information regarding the rules, regulations, and laws of foreign countries. These agents provide incomplete information, promising medical education that meets NMC guidelines in India, which may not always be accurate or reliable.

Innocent students and parents often realise the deceit only after they land in a foreign country and face difficulty in practising as independent doctors. 

In Georgia, any student completing Doctor of Medicine (MD) and a year-long internship is allowed to work as a junior doctor assisting a senior doctor. Most of them do not fulfil the criteria to appear for the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam (FMGE) and struggle to get a medical licence to practice in India. Sarvan Maharishi (24), Hyderabad, who wanted to study in a foreign medical college, told Education Times how he was misled into applying to a medical college in Georgia by an agent, where he paid a fee of Rs 2 lakh to the agency. Sarvan says, "I visited an education service agency in Hyderabad to get admission into a medical college in Georgia. I was unaware of Georgia's medical practice laws, which made it easy for them to deceive me." He was saved as he learnt about the regulations on the internet.

Knowing the Georgian law:

According to Georgian legislation, to take the postgraduate residency course and obtain the right to independent medical practice, one must pass the Unified State Certification Exam (Article 17, Law of Georgia on Medical Practice).

Santosh Biradar, a practising advocate from Hyderabad has been trying to create awareness about foreign medical education.

He said, "Medical colleges in Georgia provide a license for 'independent practice' only after a total of 9 years of education in the country. Agents claim that after completing a 5-year MBBS course (known as MD in Georgia) and an additional year of internship, the student would receive a license to practice. However, they withhold information on the independent practice licence, which is granted only after completing three years of residency and passing the National Post-Diploma Qualification Exam (NPDQE), in addition to the 5 years of MBBS and one year of internship."

Furthermore, it is concerning that the NMC does not recognise the junior doctor license provided in Georgia. On August 9, 2024, the Georgian Embassy in India notified Indian students about recent amendments made by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia regarding the medical education system.

The notice stated, "According to Article 14 of the Law of Georgia on Medical Practice, graduates of the MD program (equivalent to MBBS in India), known as junior doctors, are authorised to perform the duties of a doctor. This is fully equivalent to an MBBS qualification in India. A junior doctor performs clinical duties under the guidance of a certified specialist. If a certified doctor is not available, a junior doctor can provide emergency medical care independently."

A senior official at the NMC, speaking on condition of anonymity, says, "NMC has been trying to train doctors through internship programmes and practical training. We want students to consider reappearing for the NEET UG and focusing on performing better in the entrance exam, rather than opting for foreign medical colleges where many countries do not follow NMC norms. 

These foreign graduates often lack the practical skills needed to treat patients independently and fail to meet the licensing requirements mandated by the NMC."

"For obtaining a licence to practise medicine in Armenia and Georgia, post-graduation in a specialised field is mandatory. Duration of postgraduation varies according to the specialisation course which may range from one to four years," reads an RTI response from the Embassy of India, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia, also holding Georgia in its jurisdiction.

MBBS : Supreme Court Issues Notice On Foreign Medical Graduates' Plea Seeking Payment Of Stipend

MBBS : Supreme Court Issues Notice On Foreign Medical Graduates' Plea Seeking Payment Of Stipend

Gyanvi Khanna

23 Jan 2024 2:30 PM

In a writ petition filed by the foreign medical graduates (FMGs) challenging non-payment of stipend to them, the Supreme Court issued notice today (on January 23).

The plea filed by the students, who are currently undergoing internship at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha, was placed before Justices B.R. Gavai and Sandeep Mehta.

The petition is tagged with Abhishek Yadav & Ors. vs. Army Medical College & Ors. (W.P. (C) No. 730/2022). This case pertains to a plea in which 70 percent of medical colleges do not pay any stipend or are not paying the minimum set stipend to doctors doing MBBS internships. Therein, the Court directed the Army College of Medical Sciences to pay a stipend (of Rs. 25000) to the interns doing their compulsory one-year internship.

Contents Of The Instant Petition

At the outset, the petition has placed its reliance upon circulars dated 4th March 2022 and 19th May 2022 issued by the NMC. The petitioner states that as per this circular, the stipend to the FMGs should be extended equivalent to Indian Medical Graduates

The plea goes on to state that a notice was issued by the Government Medical Education Department, Madhya Pradesh, to the Commissioner of Medical Education, Bhopal, which inter alia provided that a stipend of Rs. 12760/- should be paid to the interns with effect from 01.04.2022.

Pertinently, the internship of the Petitioners commenced on 01.04.2023. The batch comprising 69 students was paid a stipend of only Rs. 12760/-for two months. However, after two months, the students have not been paid a stipend since June 2023.

“The students raised several grievances before different authorities, however, till date the same is not addressed.,” the petitioners added.

It is also contended that the above act of not paying the stipend is unjust, arbitrary, and non-justifiable as, among others, it creates an artificial divide between the students from other colleges who are getting stipends.

“In other States including Assam, the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) are getting stipend. It is a case of severe harassment if the FMGs are not paid stipend for the duty rendered by them. The same is also violative of the natural justice principles as it severely. sacrifices the basic rights of the FMGs.”

Moving forward, the plea also strengthens from Abhishek Yadav & Ors. vs. Army Medical College & Ors. One may note that, in this matter, the Supreme Court expressed grave concerns regarding the non-payment of stipends to MBBS interns, likening the situation to "bonded labor."

“Since this Hon'ble Court has taken cognizance of the situation in a similar writ petition filed in the case of Abhishek Yadav (supra) and it is recorded in order dated 15.09.2023 that 70% of the other medical colleges are also not paying stipend, the Petitioners are filing the present writ petition to bring to the kind notice of this Hon'ble Court such similar instances. That the Petitioners are, inter alia seeking issuance of a writ of Mandamus, or any appropriate writ, order or direction to the Respondents…,” the plea states

In view of this, inter-alia, a direction is sought against the respondent to provide a regular monthly stipend to the Petitioners and certain other students for the entire period of their internship (which commenced on 01.04.2023).

Advocate-on-Record Charu Mathur and advocate Tanvi Dubey represent the petitioners.

Case Title: SAJITH S L vs. ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE, VIDISHA., Diary No.- 53064 - 2023

FMGE Fake Registration Scam. CBI finds 20 fake FMGE certificates from Assam Medical Council. Two from Haryana and Maharashtra Medical Council.

FMGE Fake Registration Scam. CBI finds 20 fake FMGE certificates from Assam Medical Council. Two from Haryana and Maharashtra Medical Council.

31.12.2022

Medical Dialogues

A day after day CBI conducted a search operation at 91 locations across the country in connection with allegations of irregularities in the registration of fmg graduates with State Medical councils who were allowed to practice in India without qualifying for a mandatory test the agency has found 28 more graduates who had obtained fake certificates from various State Medical Council.

Of the same 20 graduates have been caught in Assam 2 in Maharashtra and 6 in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

While conductin g the search in Assam, the CBA have discovered several incriminating documents including fack certificates of the FMGE from the houses of the 20 graduates having an Assam Medical Council seal. Similarly 2 Medicos were caught from Maharashtra.

Six doctors from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have also come under this scanner for allegedly possessing fack foreign medical graduate examination documents.

This comes after the agency registered an FIR against 14 State medical councils and 73 foreign medical graduates who were allowed to practice medicine in India without qualifying for the mandatory FM GE. The CBI has conducted searches at around 91 locations including Delhi Chandigarh Amritsar Gurdaspur Bhatinda Khanna Karnal Sawai Madhopur Narwana Hamirpur Shimla Jammu, Srinagar Dehradun Ghaziabad Guwahati Tezpur Imphal Sikkim Rajpur Patna Munger Mumbai Jaipur Sikar Vijayawada Warangal Tirunelveli Madurai Bhopal Nagpur Buldana Pine Jalgaon Dharbhanga Champaran Begusarai Bokaro Vizag Hajipur Vaishali Nalanda etc at the premises of certain medical councils as well as foreign medical graduates which led to the recovery of several incriminating documents including fack past certificates of FMG examination CBI stated.

Following the raids 20 facts certificates carrying the seal of Assam Medical Council were recovered while two such certificate were carrying the seal of Haryana Medical Council and the Maharashtra Medical Council respectively.

According to norms a FMG qualify must qualify test conducted by the national board of examination in order to get provisional or permanent registration with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council to practice medicine in India.

The sources send NBE sends it's result to candidates as well as councils.

The National Board of Examination had intimated The Ministry of Health that 73 such medical graduates who did their MBBS from foreign countries such as Russia Ukraine China and Nigeria during 2011-12 have not qualified its examination and yet got registration from various State Medical councils.

When fake eligibility certificates were produced by these candidates Medical Council could have verified it from the results directly sent to them by NBE

they said

On the other hand the agent has found two more doctors in Vidarbha 1 each in Nagpur and Buldana while conducting their search in Maharashtra both doctors are reported to have procured fack registration certificate from Maharashtra and Haryana Medical Council respectively.

During the investigation the agency found that the doctor from Nagpur failed in FMGE test conducted in India after completing its MD physician course from Kuban State Medical University Russia in 2020 The Live Nagpur reports.

The information was revealed after CBI raided their house as part of the investigation. However in the case of the doctor from Buldhana the failed FMGE after completing his medical course at the Jilin University of China in 2015.

Although many cases have been brought to light so far more are expected to emerge in the future

CBI finds two foreign doctors in Nagpur, Buldana with fake registration

December 30, 2022

CBI finds two foreign doctors in Nagpur, Buldana with fake registration

written by Ajay Mardikar December 30.12.2022

 The Central Bureau of Investigation conducted raids at 91 locations in India to find out irregularities in registration of medical graduates returning from foreign countries and starting practice without following proper procedure. The issue probably cropped up following the Russia-Ukraine war. A large number of medical students returned from there.

The CBI suspected fake  certificates for these unqualified doctors and raided regional offices of the Medical Council of India. Two of the fake doctors were found in Vidarbha, one each in Nagpur and Buldana, The CBI sleuths found several incriminating documents from these Foreign Medical Graduates (?), including fake Pass Certificates.

The CBI raided the house of Dr Chetan Chaitpure in Nagpur and Dr Vinayak Magar in Mehkar, Buldana in this connection. Chetan finished MD Physician course from Kuban State Medical University, Russia in 2020, but failed in FMGE test conducted in India. He procured a fake registration certificate from Haryana Medical Council. Vinayak did MBBS from the Jilin University of China in 2015m but failed in FMGE, He procured a fake registration certificate from Maharashtra Medical Council.

With CBI carrying out search for fake registration, more such cases are expected to come out in the near future.

Foreign medical graduates in Tamil Nadu to receive Rs 25,000 stipend during CRRI, says GO

Foreign medical graduates in Tamil Nadu to receive Rs 25,000 stipend during CRRI, says GO

Financial concerns of the government prevented the state from waving off the joining fee of Rs 2 lakh

Mrittika Banerjee

Edex Live

Pic: EdexLive

Here’s some good news for the foreign medical graduates in Tamil Nadu waiting to complete their Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) as the state government has released the order on November 22, 2022, for the fee waiver. The state government complied with the demands put forth by the FMGs. The order dated November 22, stated that, “...all the Foreign Medical Graduates/Indian Medical graduates pursuing Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship shall be paid with the stipend at the rate of Rs 25,270/- per month during the year 2022-2023. There will be an automatic 3% annual increase in subsequent years for Foreign Medical Graduates similar to the regular Compulsory Medical Rotatory Internships.” Since two lakh joining fees couldn’t be waived off by the government, the notice also stated, “If the aspiring Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship trainee is not able to pay…Rs 2,00,00 upfront…charges shall be deducted from their stipend in 12 instalments…”

In a meeting held on November 21 with the FMGs; Dr Senthil Kumar, Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Medical Students’ Association (TNMSA) and Tamil Nadu's Principal Secretary of Health & Family Welfare, P Senthil Kumar IAS, the state government had promised that the government order would be published within the week following several protests. The state government adhered to its assurance and met most of the demands made by the FMGs.

Demand fulfilled

The university fees have been reduced to Rs 29,000 which previously used to be Rs 3.54 lakh. Earlier, there was no stipend but now, a stipend of Rs 25,750 will be given to the FMGs doing their CRRI. The joining fee of Rs 2 lakh has not been waived off by the government owing to genuine financial reasons.

Dr Senthil Kumar said, “They could not get approval for the fees of Rs 2 lakh for genuine financial reasons and for medical graduates who will be unable to pay the fees, Rs 18,000 from the monthly stipend of Rs 27,750 will be deducted for 12 months.” This means that FMGs who cannot pay Rs 2 lakh as fees will receive Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 as their monthly stipend. Dr Kumar also added, “Even though all our demands were not met, we are still satisfied with the government’s order.”

Let’s refresh

In order to finish their CRRI at government medical institutes, FMGs had to pay Rs 2 lakh in fees for a no-objection certificate. The National Medical Commission, however, published guidelines for the registration of Foreign Medical Graduates on March 4, 2022, making it clear that they cannot be charged for their CRRI training and that they will also receive the same stipend and other benefits as Indian medical graduates. The decision helped the FMGs since it reduced the load on those FMGs who did not receive compensation for their labour. The Tamil Nadu government announced a 90% deduction in the fees in response to the notice issued by the NMC, however, until now, the state government did not issue any official order.

Ukraine returned medical students: Working on court’s suggestions, Centre to Supreme Court

Ukraine returned medical students: Working on court’s suggestions, Centre to Supreme Court

SC had suggested that a web portal should specify complete details of the fees and the number of seats available in alternative foreign universities

Updated At: Sep 23, 2022 04:12 PM (IST)

PTI

New Delhi, September 23

The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that they are working on the suggestions given by the court to assist medical students who have returned to India from Ukraine in view of the war with Russia.

The apex court had on September 16 suggested that the Centre assist these medical students by creating a web portal giving details of the foreign universities, where they could complete their courses as per the government's academic mobility programme.

The counsel appearing for the Centre told the top court on Friday that they have written to the secretaries of the ministries of external affairs as well as health on the issue.

“In terms of the last order, we have written to the secretaries of MEA (ministry of external affairs) as well as Health. Our instruction is that they are on it,” the counsel told a bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia.

The counsel further said that in the last hearing, the apex court had indicated that a website can be made where information can be put so that there is clarity.

“We are on it," the lawyer said, adding, “It is taken up with utmost priority.” The top court posted the matter for hearing on October 11.

When one of the advocates said that final-year medical students can be permitted to take online education, the bench observed, "We are not saying anything. We will pass a comprehensive order".

At the outset, one of the advocates, appearing for some of the students, said several states have written to the Centre on the issue.

Arguing that around 13,000 medical students are affected, the lawyer said the Centre and the National Medical Commission should talk to these states.

On September 16, the apex court said there should be a transparent system and the web portal should specify complete details of the fees and the number of seats available in alternative foreign universities from where these students could complete their courses.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, had sought time to get instruction from the government on the suggestions of the bench.

The top court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by students, who are undergraduate medical students of first to fourth-year batches in their respective foreign medical colleges/universities.

These students are primarily seeking transfer to medical colleges in India in their respective semesters.The Centre, in its affidavit filed last week in the matter, had said they (students) cannot be accommodated in medical colleges here for lack of provisions under the law and till now, no permission has been given by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to transfer or accommodate any foreign medical students in any Indian medical institute/University.

It, however, had said that to aid and assist such returnee students who could not complete their MBBS courses in Ukraine, NMC in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs has issued a public notice dated September 6, 2022 (academic mobility programme), indicating that NMC would accept completion of their remaining courses in other countries (with the approval of parent university/Institution in Ukraine).

The government had said that after such completion of their remaining courses, the certificate, of course, completion/degree is expected to be issued by the parent institutions in Ukraine.