FMGs urge NMC to allow internships in non-teaching hospitals

NEW DELHI: Foreign Medical Graduates have urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) to allow internship programmes at non-teaching hospitals to accommodate more qualified FMGs. The graduates’ body pointed to challenges faced by FMGs including extension of internship period from two to three years and delay in initiation by the State Medical Councils (SMCs).

In an email sent to NMC, All FMGs Association (AFA) said that the current seats in teaching hospitals are not sufficient to accommodate the qualified foreign medical graduates which is preventing many FMGs from completing mandatory internships and from practising medicine in India. The body also shared a letter from Delhi Medical Council (DMC) to NMC requesting the same.

Explaining the issue, AFA stated, “The crux of the issue lies in the limited number of teaching hospitals designated for internships, which is further exacerbated by the extended duration of internships, ranging from two to three years. This situation has left a considerable number of foreign medical graduates in a state of uncertainty and professional stagnation.”

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The association proposed the inclusion of non-teaching hospitals as recognized venues for completing internship programmes for FMGE candidates.

According to AFA, several non-teaching hospitals provide services comparable to their teaching counterparts and can offer practical experience to interns. It believes that the integration of non-teaching hospitals into the internship framework would not only benefit the graduates but also enhance the healthcare services provided to the community given that these hospitals are often situated in areas with limited access to medical care.

“I urge the National Medical Commission to consider this proposal and take decisive action to address the plight of foreign medical graduates. Your support in this matter is crucial for the future of many aspiring medical professionals and the overall well-being of our healthcare system,” AFA requested.