Paperwork Paralysis: 173 foreign medical graduates stuck waiting for provisional certificates

Srinagar, Dec 2: Foreign Medical Graduates from Jammu and Kashmir are finding themselves in limbo, alleging that the J&K Medical Council (JKMC) has not issued their provisional registration certificates.

Sans these certificates, they are unable to join their Compulsory Mandatory Rotatory Internship (CRMI).

Speaking to Greater Kashmir, a delegation representing 173 medical graduates said they completed their studies abroad and find themselves sidelined in J&K.

Their mandatory one-year CRMI seems out of bounds, despite them having cleared the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE).

“Our future is at risk due to the Medical Council (JKMC) and the Health and Medical Education Department,” the delegation said.

For FMGs who wish to work and practice in India, clearing their FMGE is mandatory, after which they have to secure provisional registration and get a slot in CRMI.

They said that for CMRI, JKMC issued Notification No MRC/J/NOTICE/2025/9833 dated October 1, 2025, with the last date extended to October 26, 2025, for issuance of the merit list and college allotment.

“Although the provisional merit list was released on October 30, 2025, followed by the final list of 173 FMGs on November 7, 2025,” they said. “The seat allocation was subject to approval from the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department.”

They alleged that H&ME did not issue any communication on the subject for over a month.

Now the issue at hand is that JKMC has not issued their necessary clearance, barring them from starting the internships.

However, JKMC said that the council would issue provisional registration certificates in favour of foreign medical graduates who have been shortlisted for compulsory rotational medical internship in various medical colleges.

“Once the council receives the verification reports of their certificates which include classes 10th and 12th from Board of School Education (BOSE), eligibility certificate from National Medical Commission, FMG examination by National Board of Examination, New Delhi, and the degree certificate and marks cards by respective foreign universities and colleges through their respective embassies and high commissions in New Delhi, there should be no impediment,” President JKMC, Prof S M Saleem Khan, said. “The certificate verification is mandatory to check the genuineness and authentication of all such certificates.”