Maharashtra Medical Council Faces Backlog of 2,000+ Foreign Graduate Registrations
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) is currently grappling with a significant backlog, as over 2,000 foreign medical graduates (FMGs) in the state await clear directives for permanent registration. This situation follows the National Medical Commission's (NMC) clarification of guidelines that permit FMGs who attended online classes during the Covid-19 pandemic to register and practice in India.
Diverse Backgrounds and Complex Cases
The affected candidates studied medicine in various countries, including Georgia, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, China, and the Philippines. According to the MMC, each case presents unique circumstances, and not all graduates have completed the compensatory internship as mandated by the NMC. This complexity necessitates careful implementation of the national guidelines to ensure compliance and maintain standards.
"We will have to deal with this on a case-by-case basis," stated MMC administrator Vinki Rughwani. "We will implement the NMC guidelines with care to ensure there is no deviation from their policy. The state council will take a student-friendly decision."
Candidates Voice Frustration Over Delays
Many graduates who have already completed their compulsory rotating medical internship (CRMI) in their respective countries are now attempting to repeat the process in India, pending MMC's response. Rachita Kurmi, who earned her MBBS in China, expressed her concerns: "We cleared the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE). We completed our mandatory one-year internship in our country of degree completion. We ensured all our online classes were supported by offline classes and practical hours. Still, we are not getting registration to practice here."
Allegations of Inconsistent State Policies
Candidates have raised allegations of inconsistent approaches across different states. While states like Kerala, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan have shown reluctance in granting permanent registration, others such as Uttar Pradesh have been more accommodating, allowing FMGs to practice. Jammu and Kashmir have also issued directives in alignment with the NMC guidelines.
Another candidate highlighted the global context: "Countries like the UK and the USA also faced the pandemic; India wasn't the only one. However, those countries granted registration to students who studied abroad after they cleared the screening exam. We are concerned that the MMC may require us to undergo an additional one or two years of internship here as well."
Activist Intervention and Calls for Fast-Track Solutions
In response to the delays, the candidates have sought assistance from RTI activist Faisal Shaikh, who has approached both the MMC and the medical education minister to advocate for relief. "Given that these doctors have already lost significant time, we demand a fast-track redressal mechanism," Shaikh emphasized.
MMC administrator Vinki Rughwani confirmed the scale of the issue, noting that over 2,000 FMGs from the state have been seeking permanent registration in the past year. The council's cautious approach aims to balance regulatory compliance with the need to integrate these qualified professionals into the healthcare system efficiently.
