This is important news for Indian students pursuing medical studies abroad. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a clarification regarding students enrolled in Bachelor of Science (BS) courses at foreign universities.
This decision gives one-time relief to students who were unsure about the validity of their degrees after the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations were introduced in 2021.
Under the FMGL Regulations, students who study medicine abroad must pass a screening test to be allowed to practice medicine in India. Every year, thousands of Indian students go overseas for medical education.
To be eligible for the screening test, students must have cleared NEET and obtained a degree from an institution that follows NMC guidelines. This screening test is mandatory to practice in India.
What Has NMC Clarified?
The NMC has revised its earlier public notice dated December 7, 2023. This clarification applies to students who enrolled in a BS course at a foreign university, either online or offline, before November 18, 2021, which is the date when the FMGL Regulations 2021 came into effect.
According to the new order, these students will now have to appear for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) under the Screening Test Regulations, 2002.
This exam is required for foreign medical graduates who wish to practice medicine in India.
In addition, these students must complete a mandatory one-year internship in India. This is to ensure they receive proper clinical training and meet Indian medical education standards.
The NMC has shared this order with all medical colleges and institutes. It has also clearly stated that there is no change in earlier notices, and this exemption is applicable only once for students pursuing BS courses.
Who Will Benefit from This NMC Rule?
This clarification applies only to students pursuing BS courses, especially in countries like the Philippines, where completing a BS degree is compulsory before entering a medical program.
The rule is valid only for students who enrolled before November 18, 2021.
Students who joined medical courses after 2021 must follow the FMGL Regulations 2021, which require 54 months of study along with a mandatory internship.
The new NMC order brings eligible BS students under the old Screening Test Regulations of 2002.
This is a one-time exemption, meaning the NMC will recognize their degree even though it does not fully comply with the 2021 FMGL Regulations.
These students only need to complete their internship in India and then pass the FMGE exam. Once they do so, they will be allowed to practice medicine in India, opening up employment opportunities for them.
