Foreign Medical Graduates Face Stricter Internship Rules: Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Upholds NMC Guidelines

Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) in Andhra Pradesh are at loggerheads with the state's medical council over the issuance of final medical registration (FMR) certificates. Despite intensifying protests from the FMG community, the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council (APMC) remains steadfast, asserting its strict adherence to the guidelines laid down by the National Medical Commission (NMC). This comes as many FMGs, whose studies were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war, find themselves facing extended internship periods to compensate for online learning.

The core of the dispute lies in the NMC's revised stipulations for FMGs. According to these guidelines, students who completed their final year of MBBS online are now mandated to undertake a two-year internship, comprising 12 months of traditional internship and an additional 12 months of clerkship. The requirement escalates for those who pursued both their pre-final and final years online from India due to the global crises; they must now complete a rigorous three-year internship, including 12 months of internship and a substantial 24 months of clerkship.

Addressing the media in Vijayawada on Friday, APMC Chairman Dr. D. Sree Hari Rao emphasized that the council is merely following all directives, public notices, and instructions issued by the NMC. He highlighted that the initial 12-month internship allocation, which occurred during the maiden counselling in January 2023 for FMGs who cleared the national board examination, was in line with these regulations.

Dr. Rao clarified the different internship requirements based on the mode of study. "FMGs who completed their MBBS entirely offline abroad, but returned to India due to COVID-19 or the Ukraine war and subsequently finished their course, were allotted a one-year internship," he stated. "However, those who returned to India and pursued their studies online without compensating for their online classes with offline training were initially given a two-year internship."

The situation evolved further with fresh guidelines from the NMC in November and December 2023. These new rules dictate that FMGs who studied their penultimate and final years online from India must now undertake two years of clerkship to make up for their lost clinical training, followed by a one-year internship for offline training. "Accordingly, orders were issued to principals of all medical colleges to communicate the same to the FMGs," Dr. Rao explained.

The controversy deepened when some FMGs, unwilling to undergo the extended second-year internship, sought legal recourse. "The high court magistrate, after hearing the plea, ruled that all rules issued by the Government of India and the National Medical Commission must be followed regarding online and offline study. The court dismissed the case, stating that the compensation certificates submitted by the FMGs had no merit," the chairman revealed.

While some FMG students have reportedly rejoined to complete their two-year internship and clerkship as per the court's verdict, a segment of the FMG community, without awaiting a final judgment, has initiated protests and dharnas. The APMC, according to Dr. Rao, was not officially informed of these demonstrations, leading to the current chaotic situation.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav has urged the protesting FMG students to end their demonstrations and return to their duties, emphasizing the need to complete their internship and clerkship periods as per NMC guidelines. He appealed to the students to cooperate with the government until further clarification is obtained, either from the high court or the NMC. The Minister also announced that an APMC committee would be personally visiting Delhi to discuss the ongoing issues pertaining to FMGs and the issuance of FMR certificates.

Between 2023 and 2025, the APMC has issued FMRs to 253 FMGs who successfully completed 12 months of clerkship and 12 months of internship, highlighting the council's commitment to processing registrations for those who meet the established criteria.