NMC Permits Medical Students Returning from Ukraine to Complete Internships in India: Read the Guidelines Here!

Due to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the Covid 19 pandemic, many foreign medical graduate students are finding it difficult to complete their internships. Therefore, the government has decided to allow Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) returning from Ukraine to complete their 12-month compulsory internship in India. Moreover, according to the notice published by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Friday, only those candidates who have cleared the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) will be eligible to apply for internships. 

Guidelines by NMC for State Medical Councils

• In the country where the degree was awarded, the medical qualification/degree must be registrable to practice medicine, and at par with the license to practice medicine given to citizens of that country.
• The candidate must provide documentation certifying the completion of physical training equivalent to MBBS.
• A copy of passport, VISA, immigration details, and FMGE clearance certificate is necessary.
• If the candidate fulfils the above criteria, only then will the SMC grant registration for a 12-month internship. 
• Internship shall be permissible in medical college hospital or hospital attached to medical colleges, permitted by the Commission.
• The State Medical Councils will ascertain that the medical college/hospital charges no fee from the FMGs. In addition, the council should ensure that the stipend and other facilities provided to the FMGs are equal to those provided to Indian Medical Graduates training at that college.

NMC Policy Changes

Currently, Indian regulations do not allow foreign medical graduates to transfer to an Indian medical college for internships or exams. But now, NMC has relaxed internship restrictions. Authorities have said that FMGs with incomplete internships due to the Russia-Ukraine war can apply to complete the rest of it.