J&K FMGs protest as J&K Medical Council tightens internship rules

Srinagar, Oct 19: Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) in J&K are now required to sign an undertaking with their internship application and preference forms, agreeing to forgo any stipend.

This notice, issued by the J&K Medical Council on October 17, has left the FMGs scrambling for a limited number of non-stipendiary available seats in Government Medical Colleges.

The J&K Medical Council claims the notice was issued under government directives, citing financial constraints and a shortage of seats in medical colleges.

President of the J&K Medical Council, Prof S Muhammad Salim Khan acknowledged the challenge, noting that their current focus was on finding more internship opportunities for FMGs.

He said that without these many careers were at risk.

“Currently, only 19 internship slots are available for FMGs, while the number of applicants is at least 10 times higher,” Prof Khan said. “In previous years, newer medical colleges in J&K like those in Kathua, Doda, and Anantnag, did not have their own graduating batches, allowing FMGs easier access to internships.”

However, he said that this year these colleges were graduating their own students, significantly reducing the number of available slots for FMGs.

“According to National Medical Commission (NMC)’s guidelines, 7.5 percent of a medical college’s intake capacity is reserved for FMGs, translating to no more than 80 slots across all medical colleges in J&K annually,” Prof Khan said.

He expressed deep concern over this crisis, pointing out that more than 400 FMGs apply for internships in J&K every year.

Prof Khan said discussions were underway to request the NMC to increase the number of slots for FMGs in the future.

While the NMC has approved non-teaching hospitals for FMG internships, J&K has so far designated only SMGS Hospital in Jammu and SMHS Hospital in Srinagar – both teaching hospitals - further straining available resources.

On the issue of stipends, Prof Khan said, "We will try to mobilise resources, but it is difficult to make any promises.”

The denial of stipend has outraged FMG aspirants, who feel they are being unfairly discriminated against.

They point to Supreme Court rulings that mandate equal treatment for Indian and foreign medical graduates, including the provision of stipends throughout their internships.

The court emphasised that the NMC and related authorities must ensure FMGs receive a stipend in accordance with the norms of the medical colleges.

NMC circulars from March 4, 2022, and May 19, 2022, also clearly state that stipends should be provided equally to both Indian and foreign medical graduates.

For many FMGs in J&K, this decision feels like the final blow as they struggle to secure internships. Having completed their medical degrees abroad, these graduates now find the J&K government unwilling to even help cover basic travel costs.

“The stipend is already small, but it at least helps with travel expenses to medical colleges and hospitals,” an aspirant said.