FMGE - Not Mandatory for foreign graduates

Many Indian students go abroad for their medical education due to few seats in the country and stiff competition. The students who pursue their medical education abroad are supposed to pass the Screening Test conducted by MCI before they can start practicing in India. According to certain reports, The Indian government is considering the idea of allowing foreign medical graduates to practice in India without any need for Licensure exam like FMGE .The screening test has been in a controversy from long time. The proposal scrutinized by ministry of Law and Justice is expected to be notified soon. This step is taken in order to tackle the situation of acute shortage of doctors in our country. This will also assist the thousands of Indian origin doctors who wish to practice in India but are unable to due to strict rules and regulations. Present Law states that Indian Students could seek medical degree from any recognized medical education institution in a foreign country. However, these students need to clear licensure exam and get registered with a State medical Council (SMU) before they could start practicing. This is a statutory requirement as per section 13(A) of IMC Act,1956 amended in 2002. To secure an MCI registration, it’s mandatory for Foreign graduates to clear FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduates Examination) since 2002. But statistics show only 12% students are able to clear the exam. Also Read: Everything you need to know about Foreign Medical Graduate Screening Exam (FMGE) Urban Medical Centres will be benefitted: Attracting foreign graduated would solve manpower shortage only in the urban areas whereas the problem of shortage will still persist in rural regions. For now, Foreign medical Graduates who got their medical degrees from the following countries can practice in India without clearing FMGE:

• Unites Stated of America
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Australia

But with the new rule, doctors from other country would also be able to practice in India without any screening Test. Lets hope the decision is taken soon by the ministry of Law and Justice. Stay tuned for more Updates on FMGE!