Clarifying various issues related to FMG's.

 Clarifying various issues related to foreign medical graduates [FMG's].

A  FMG'S FROM UKRAINE.

FMGs duly finished their offline medical education at foreign medical institutes (which is comparable to an MBBS program in India) with or without a year-long internship before returning to India.

  In accordance with CRMI Regulation, 2021, the FMG must first get Provisional Registration from the relevant State Medical Council and then undergo a one-year CRMI.

 Stipend equal to those of Indian medical graduates is available to these students.

B. FMGs had a break in their Final year and returned to India (owing to COVID pandemic or war) and completed FMG course (including examination) in online mode only.

In place of the training that their parent medical college did not provide, FMGs will be required to complete a one-year clinical clerkship (CC) in India.

The Indian Medical College has the authority to charge FMGs a clerkship fee of no more than Rs. 5,000 per month.

Following a successful year-long clinical clerkship, which is documented in a log book and validated by relevant college authorities, the individual will be eligible to start the CRMI program, which can be completed at any accredited medical college or establishment.

At the CRMI stage, these students will be entitled to receive a stipend equal to the one received by to the stipend received by IMGs of that college/ Institution.

Allotment of such students to clinical clerkship or Internship programme will be done through concerned DME and SMC, in consultation with each other.

Existing FMGs undergoing internship be allowed to continue to complete their two years before permanent registration given by the State Medical Council.

III. FMGs having a break in Penultimate year of study (owing to COVID pandemic or war) and completed FMG course (including examination) in online mode only.

Such students have to undergo two (2) years of clinical clerkship supported by logbook, further authenticated by concerned college authority.

  The Indian Medical College may charge clerkship fee from FMGs maximum upto Rs. 5000/-PM. 

 After successful completion of 2 year clinical clerkship and supported by log book followed by authentication from concerned college authority, they will be allowed to begin CRMI which may be done in medical college or any recognized institute . 

Such students at the stage of CRMI, shall be eligible to receive stipend equivalent to the stipend received by IMGs of that college/ Institution. 

 Allotment of such students to clinical clerkship or Internship programme will be done through concerned DME and SMC, in consultation with each other. 

Existing FMGs, if any, already performing internship at present, may be allowed to continue with one year of internship. They may subsequently do one year clinical clerkship and one year internship. (Thus a total of three (3) years, before obtaining Permanent Registration from concerned SMC).

IV. Allowing FMGs from Ukraine to continue their study from different country (except India) 

 In continuation to the earlier scheme dated 15th September, 2022 namely Academic Mobility Program, NMC has decided to extend such scheme as a one-time measure to the FMGs returning from Ukraine to avail the benefits of said scheme and complete their remaining medical course. The Degree may however be awarded by the University to where they shall migrate. This option of transfer/migration/mobility shall be availed within 3 months from the date of issue of this public notice.

B. FMGs FROM PHILIPPINES 

 That with effect from 18.11.2021 i.e. with the publication of FMGL Regulation, 2021, NMC de-recognises BS Course in Philippines. Hence those FMGs who were studying BS Course or had taken admission in BS Course at the time of publication of FMGL Regulation are not allowed. 

 However FMGs having taken admission in MD Course on or before 18.11.2021 are eligible to complete the course and subsequently write FMG Examination in India. After qualifying FMGE, these FMGs are required to undergo one year of internship in order to compensate the deficiency in their training from parent foreign medical college followed by CRMI after obtaining provisional registration. (Since their course is of 48 months only unlike 54 months MBBS course in India). 

In case of break as mentioned under Situation II & III of Point A above, then similar condition shall be applicable here. 

NOTE: THE DECISION TO INSISIT ON AN ADDITIONAL YEARS OF CLERKSHIP IS BECAUSE THESE STUDENTS LACK PROPER PLANNED TRAINING AND PRACTICAL CLINICAL EXPOSURE FOR A LONGER PERIOD, IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY. 

C. ISSUE OF ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATE (EC) TO FMGs 

 Keeping in view the fact that several thousand Indian students who have already commenced their pre-medical education, i.e., B.S. course in Philippines or pre-medical/language courses in any other foreign countries and that Eligibility Certificate is required to be granted on the criteria of age and marks in 10+2 as per Public Notice dated 14th September, 2018 issued by the erstwhile Medical Council of India and Order dated 27.09.2018 passed by the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi at New Delhi in WP(c)No.8091/2018 and connected matters, Indian Citizens/OCI who had not registered/appeared/qualified NEET-UG 2018 & 2019, were allowed to take admission in MBBS or equivalent medical course in a medical university outside the country in the academic year 2018-19 and 2019-20. However, such candidates are required to obtain/apply for an eligibility certificate from the Medical Council of India u/s 13(4B) of the IMC Act, 1956.

Such candidates should furnish their admission record in BS or any other pre-medical course/language course in the Foreign Countries with their application for an Eligibility Certificate alongwith details of travel including exit from India and entry back into India as well as entry / exit in that Foreign Country. The same may be accepted only on the basis of certified copies of passport wherein such details are duly recorded. It may be further clarified that, the present is a one-time exemption granted keeping in view the peculiar facts and circumstances that have arisen and all those who leave the Indian Shores for pursuing pre-medical/medical course for the academic year 2018-19 & 2019-20 shall be exempted from the requirement of NEET-2018 & 2019 in terms of the amendment dated 01.03.2018 to the Screening Test Regulations, 2002 and Eligibility Requirement for Taking Admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulation, 2002 

D. CAPPING OF TIME LIMIT TO QUALIFY FMG EXAMINATION 

The time limit for appearing in FMG Examination/ NExT will be 10 years from the completion of their training/ course in Foreign Medical Institution.

(Shambhu Sharan Kumar) 

Director-UGMEB National Medical Commission