Career Alert: Know these rules before pursuing an MBBS abroad; NMC's response could spell trouble for students..

Indian students aspiring to pursue an MBBS degree abroad are facing a new challenge. Inconsistent responses from the National Medical Commission (NMC) have created confusion among students pursuing medical studies in Georgia. The core issue is whether Indian students, upon completing a six-year MBBS course in Georgia, are eligible to take the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) to practice as doctors in India. Legal experts suggest that some education consultants are exploiting the NMC’s ​​lack of a clear, definitive stance.

What are the discrepancies in the NMC’s ​​responses?
Two medical students inquired through the Prime Minister’s grievance portal whether they would be eligible to appear for the FMGE in India after completing a six-year MBBS program in Georgia. On September 24, the NMC responded by stating that, under the 2021 regulations, a medical degree is valid only if the student, upon completing their MBBS in Georgia, obtains a license to practice medicine independently. Subsequently, on October 13, in a response to another student regarding the same query, the Commission stated that the regulations concerning an independent practice license are currently being reviewed by competent authorities and an expert committee.

How are consultants misleading students?
Sachin Jain, a lawyer specializing in medical litigation at the Delhi High Court, alleges that some education consultants—who receive substantial commissions from foreign universities—are misleading students. By citing the NMC’s ​​second response, these consultants assure students that the requirement for an independent practice license might soon be waived or that an alternative solution could be found. According to Jain, students are enrolling in foreign universities based on such assurances. If their degrees are ultimately not recognized in India, their entire careers could be jeopardized.

What do the regulations enacted by Parliament stipulate?
Sachin Jain points out that the NMC cannot unilaterally abolish this requirement. Since these regulations were established by Parliament, any change would necessitate an amendment to the law by the government. When students asked—for the third time, via the Prime Minister’s grievance portal—which of the two conflicting responses from the Commission (NMC) should be considered correct, the NMC once again merely cited the 2021 Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) regulations. Consequently, students failed to receive clear information regarding their eligibility, further heightening the concerns of young people planning to pursue medical studies abroad.

What is the confusion surrounding the regulations in Georgia?
In this context, a Q&A document issued by Georgia’s National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE) has also drawn attention. The Center claims that Georgia meets all the NMC’s ​​requirements for foreign medical students. However, its documentation also notes that students who have earned a medical degree can work as "junior doctors" without taking additional examinations—but they cannot practice medicine independently. They must work under the supervision and responsibility of a physician who is authorized to practice independently.

What is required to become a doctor in India?
According to Ajay Kumar Singh, an Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court, there is a distinct difference between being permitted to work as a "junior doctor" in Georgia and having the right to practice medicine independently. Under NMC regulations, a student must hold a license to practice medicine independently in the country where they obtained their medical degree. Merely being permitted to work under the supervision of another doctor does not satisfy this requirement. Therefore, the claims made by the Georgian educational authority could create confusion for Indian students, potentially benefiting medical colleges in that country.

What is being demanded of the government?
Legal experts have urged the Union Ministry of Health and the NMC to make public a list of countries and foreign medical universities whose graduates meet the eligibility criteria to appear for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in India. Providing such a list would ensure that thousands of students planning to pursue an MBBS degree abroad have access to accurate information, while also protecting them from misleading claims and potential fraud. Experts advise that until clear information regarding the regulations becomes available, students should verify the licensing rules of the respective country and the conditions set by the NMC, rather than relying on the promises of any consultant.

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