SRINAGAR: On November 18, 2021, the National Medical Commission of India released a notification through which “an internship for a minimum duration of twelve months in the same foreign medical institution” was made mandatory, effectively extending the course period from 5 years to 6 years. Previously, there was no such rule requiring foreign students to pursue an internship in the same university; rather, the rules were flexible, and a student could complete his or her internship either at the foreign university or in India.
On November 18, the rules were changed to a compulsory “54-month” course period, and a “12-month” internship in the same foreign medical university was added. Without this, a foreign medical student will not be allowed to practice in India.
In India, the National Testing Agency conducts NEET (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test) every year for students aspiring to pursue undergraduate medical courses. The examination is usually conducted in the month of May. In 2021, however, it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and held in September, marking a delay of nearly four months. The results were declared on November 1.
This notification has lately become a nightmare for students like Sayar, who is currently pursuing his MBBS in Kazakhstan. “I was not confident about my selection in the 2021 NEET, so I opted for admission to one of the medical universities in Kazakhstan. My admission process was almost complete, the documentation had been finalised, and I was awaiting the notice regarding classes. Suddenly, the NMC issued this new guideline, which disrupted my entire academic plan.”
Almost 15 to 16 lakh students appear for the NEET examination annually in India, with only 55,000 to 65,000 seats available in government medical colleges, and an additional 60,000 in private medical colleges, which are far more expensive. This gap between the number of seats and the number of candidates reduces the chances of qualification for the majority of aspirants, and each year, 15,000 to 25,000 students seek admission to medical universities abroad.
“I had already appeared for NEET twice after failing to secure a seat in a government medical college, and private medical colleges were far too expensive for someone like me. All of this prompted me to seek admission abroad,” says Sayar, who now wishes he had given more thought before making such a decision.
Foreign medical universities follow two intakes—September and January. The new FMGL Regulations 2021 have created confusion and disparity among students admitted to different foreign medical universities. Students whose classes began after November 18 and who belong to the January session fall under the new regulations and must complete an additional year of internship, while their counterparts from the September session remain under the old rules. This has resulted in students from the same academic cycle being treated differently.
This change in rules has not only created academic uncertainty but has also led to financial concerns among students, which could deeply impact their lives. The additional year will add to their overall expenses.
“Results of NEET 2021 were declared on November 1, and many students completed their documentation within the next few days and deposited fees soon after. They had planned their education based on a five-year course duration, and their families had calculated expenses accordingly. Not everyone is financially stable; some students have managed to come here after selling their properties, while many have taken educational loans. How will such students manage the additional expenses?” said Manpreet, who is currently pursuing his MBBS in Kazakhstan.
Several student bodies have written to the NMC regarding this issue, requesting the medical body to grant a “one-time exemption from the strict applicability of the FMGL-2021 regulations for the affected 2021–2022 batch.” However, no official decision has been taken yet.
Students from the 2021–2022 batch are set to complete their degrees by August this year and continue to wonder whether their concerns will be addressed. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the delay in NEET exams was not the students’ fault. This delay of almost four months further affected the admission process and documentation,” said Dr. Sushi Vijay, who is currently serving as president of the Global Medicos India (FMG) wing.
“On November 1, students received their results and began the admission process. They had prepared for a five-year course, but within just 18 days, their lives were turned upside down. The new FMGL Regulations changed everything for these foreign medical students. Hundreds of families take educational loans to send their children abroad, and these loans are structured for five years. Banks are unlikely to cover the additional one-year expense. This issue has led to a mental health crisis among both students and their families,” added Dr Sushil.
Students currently studying in various foreign medical colleges expressed deep concern about the uncertainty surrounding their course duration if the National Medical Commission does not grant an exemption. “I tried to qualify for a government medical college three times. After failing for three consecutive years, I opted for a foreign medical college. Now I wonder whether I made the right choice. My family back home is deeply affected by this crisis. Hundreds of students have loans or debts that were planned for a five-year period. Now we either have to drop out or take on more debt, which is not feasible,” said a student studying in Russia.
