Dreams deferred and careers stalled: Nearly 500 foreign-trained doctors in Andhra Pradesh are caught in a bureaucratic maze, desperately awaiting the official green light to begin their life-saving work in India. Their year-long wait for permanent registration certificates from the AP Medical Council has sparked protests, legal battles, and a growing cry for urgent intervention.
Nearly 500 Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) in Andhra Pradesh find themselves in a precarious professional limbo, their aspirations of practicing medicine in India stalled by significant delays in obtaining Permanent Registration (PR) certificates from the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council (APMC). Many of these young doctors have been waiting for over 13 months, unable to embark on their careers or pursue postgraduate studies, leading to mounting frustration and distress.
The PR certificate is the cornerstone of a medical career in India, serving as the official license to practice. Without it, FMGs are barred from independent practice, resident doctor positions, or admission to crucial postgraduate programs like MD, MS, or diploma courses. It validates their medical qualifications and internship completion, proving their competency for both government and private healthcare sectors.
FMGs allege that the registration process has been plagued by bureaucratic hurdles, even after the formation of a new APMC three months ago. They claim the registrar’s office has yet to begin shortlisting eligible candidates under the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) norms, further prolonging their uncertainty.
APMC's Stance and Evolving Guidelines
In response to growing discontent, APMC Chairman Dr. Srihari Rao and Registrar Dr. Ramesh issued a statement on Friday, July 4, explaining the Council’s position. They clarified that FMGs who passed the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination in January 2023 were, for the first time, allotted internship positions across all medical colleges in the state, in accordance with NMC instructions.
The complexity stems from the NMC's revised internship and clerkship guidelines, issued in late 2023. These guidelines were a direct response to the disruptions in medical education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war. FMGs who completed their entire course abroad were required to undergo a one-year internship in India. However, those who studied their final year, or both pre-final and final years, online from India were mandated to complete two or three years of clerkship and internship, respectively, to compensate for lost clinical exposure.
"When these FMGs were doing their internship, NMC issued fresh guidelines in November and December 2023 stating that FMGs who studied their penultimate and final years online from India must do two years of clerkship followed by one year of internship to compensate for clinical training loss," the officials reiterated. Many FMGs complied with these extended training requirements but are still awaiting their PR certificates.
Legal Battles and Protests
The Council stated that some FMGs resisted these new requirements and sought recourse through the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
The High Court dismissed their plea, upholding that all rules issued by the Government of India and NMC must be followed. One FMG has filed an appeal, and the judgement is reserved.APMC
Despite the ongoing legal context, several FMGs resumed their clerkship and internship, with the Council maintaining its strict adherence to all NMC rules and notices.
Frustration boiled over into silent protests, including one on National Doctors’ Day (July 1), which was disrupted by police. This drew criticism from the Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors’ Association (APJUDA), the Andhra Pradesh Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (APNA), and opposition leaders.
The FMGs, without waiting for the final judgement, suddenly started dharnas which the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council is not aware of.APMC
However, on July 1, 2025, the Health Minister for Health and Family Welfare met with the agitating FMGs, heard their grievances, and assured them of discussion with the APMC. A subsequent meeting on July 2, 2025, saw the Minister instruct the Chairman and Registrar to take up the issue with the NMC in Delhi.
The compensation certificates submitted by most FMGs are not justified and that the allotment letter issued by Andhra Pradesh Medical Council for two years of internship is justified.APMC
Political Intervention and Calls for Clarity
Opposition YSRCP MP Maddila Gurumoorthy has also weighed in, urging immediate intervention. He highlighted the difficulties faced by FMGs in securing their registration despite fulfilling all qualifications, noting the "procedural delays and rejections due to evolving documentation requirements."
Ambiguity surrounding the acceptance of online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the insistence on compensation certificates in formats that foreign universities cannot furnish without explicit direction from the NMC. This lack of clarity has led to significant hardship for these young doctors. These delays are affecting their careers and contributing to the loss of medical professionals when the country still faces shortages in the healthcare workforce.Maddila Gurumoorthy, MP, YSRCP
He called for "clear, time-bound, and uniform directions to all state medical councils, particularly APMC, to expedite the registration process," and urged "a one-time special consideration for those who have already completed internships in line with previous guidelines."
The prolonged delay continues to cast a shadow over the careers of these dedicated young doctors, who are eager to contribute to India's healthcare system but remain caught in a bureaucratic tangle.
(RH/Dr. Divina Johncy Rosario/MSM/SE)