NMC won’t accept FMG certificates compensating offline practical with online theory classes

NEW DELHI: National Medical Commission (NMC) has scrapped the provision of compensating online classes with offline mode for foreign medical graduates (FMGs). It announced that the certificates regarding the supplementation of online theory classes with offline practical and clinical training will not be accepted.

“It has been observed that many FMGs are maliciously obtaining compensatory certificates from their parent universities for the online classes carried by them. The medical profession deals with precious human life, therefore the life of Indian citizens cannot be put at stake of poorly trained medical professionals,” the official statement read.

“The UGMEB has decided that henceforth, Certificate regarding the compensation/ supplementation of online theory subjects/classes with offline practical and clinical training shall not be accepted,” the commission said.

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

The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE 2024) is a screening test for FMGs possessing MBBS qualification from a foreign medical institute who are desirous of getting provisional or permanent registration with Medical Council of India (MCI) or any State Medical Council (SMC).

The FMGE results for the December 2023 exam were declared in February through the official website, natboard.edu.in. As per the results, a total of 38,535 candidates appeared for the screening test, of which 30,046 candidates failed and 693 FMGs were marked absent.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, Indian students who were pursuing UG medical courses abroad shifted to online classes. In view of this, the NMC issued the compulsory internship norms for FMGs.

The NMC recently extended the compulsory internship to two years till May 2026 for FMGs. The decision was taken after receiving several representations from students regarding difficulty in deployment of FMGs for internship.

The latest notification reiterated that the “FMGs who have attended their classes online for any duration during their course completion are required to qualify the FMG Examination” should complete a Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) for a period of two to three years to be eligible to practice medicine in India.