FMGE Exam: Thousands of foreign medical graduates await internships as states delay counselling

NEW DELHI: Almost three months after the results for the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) were declared, budding doctors in several states are awaiting their mandatory internships to begin.

The states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Goa and Odisha, are yet to begin the counselling process for FMGs who cleared the screening test in the December 2024 session. Some states, such as West Bengal, are yet to complete appointments for even the July 2024 session. The delay has caused anxiety among thousands of candidates who risk putting off higher education and work opportunities.

A record 44,390 candidates had appeared for the exam – which grants FMGs the permission to practice medicine in India – of whom 13,149 (around 30%) passed. Their FMGE scorecards were also delayed . The latest session of the licentiate exam, which is conducted biannually by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) in June and December, was held on January 12, while the results were published on January 19.

FMGE: Delayed counselling, no internships

While the exam is held nationally, counselling for the year-long internships is managed by the states.

Shayequa Raza from West Bengal, who did his MBBS from an institute in Kyrgyzstan, cleared FMGE July 2024, but is yet to find an internship. The state government has so far placed 118 candidates from the July 2024 session, with more than 30 still in the waiting list. They now hope to go through counselling alongside the December 2024 aspirants.

“It’s an unusual delay. The counselling typically begins within a few months of the test. It’s a waste of time. Many of us are facing problems at home. Some had taken out loans to study abroad and have started receiving demand letters from lenders. The internship stipends will bring some relief,” he said, adding that the state officials told them that their postings were deferred due to financial constraints.

Also read ‘Either I clear FMGE or leave India’ : Foreign medical graduates trapped in vicious cycle

The Doctors Welfare Federation (DWF) India, an advocacy group, has now written letters to the medical education departments of the state governments, demanding that the counselling process be started immediately.

“It has been over two months since the results were announced and the delay is causing significant concern and uncertainty among students,” reads the letter by DWF national president Chandraveer Singh.

While the exact number of affected candidates is not clear, DWF estimates that around 1,000 FMGs are expected to participate in UP’s counselling.

The medicos are also demanding that the counselling process for internships be taken over by the union government, instead of leaving it to the whims of the states. “If FMGs aren’t able to complete internships in time, they might miss the NEET PG and the exams for medical officer,” said DWF director Jakir Khan.