The impact of COVID 19 on education and curriculum haven’t been over yet. This is clearly visible from the issue faced by the Foreign Medical Graduates in receiving their final registration certificate. The central theme behind this unsettled issue is the Online class attended by the FMGs during the pandemic have laid all eyes on the issues over new internship norms
With the guidelines from NMC that FMGs who have sufficiently compensated for their online training with physical onsite in lieu and cleared FMGE test would be eligible to get permanent registration after an internship of one year only, the FMGs stage protest for them being asked to complete three years internship to compensate online training during pandemic.
Issues on the Headline of protest:
The first issue is regarding the delay in issuing permanent registration.
The second issue is regarding the allotment for internship for the juniors i.e) 2-3 years of internship despite having a compensation certificate for the online classes.
Demands of the FMGs include issuing final registration to those who have completed the 1-year internship and rectifying the internship allotment order for the juniors who have properly undergone compensatory classes.
"When the FMGs protested in Delhi, NMC issued another notice and said that those who have compensated for their online classes would be allotted 1-year-internship"Medical graduate from IHSM Kyrgyzstan
This issue has also resulted in the inability to FMGs to apply for NEET PG to be held in June 2025.
The FMGs also flood the social media platforms with hashtags and posts as raising their concern to the officials concerned.
It seems like they are punishing us for pursuing our degrees outside.Farhan Naqash
All medical graduate of Indian and foreign students are equal medical course in their educationProf. Narendra Kolte
The concern of FMGs have made the Foreign Medical Students' Wing of All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) to extend its support to the protesting medicos in Andhra Pradesh.
Dr. Apurv Dalvi, The National Convenor of AIMSA-FMGW supports the FMGs by saying that the issue have caused undue mental distress for the waiting capable doctors.
In response to the protest, the APMC Registrar Dr.Ramesh informed that he was visiting the National Medical Commission (NMC) office regarding the concerns of the FMGs.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Jude Bencia/MSM)