FMGs’ worry grows as NEET PG exam application date nears

Delays in Permanent Registrations for pandemic-affected Foreign Medical Graduates in Andhra Pradesh continue, causing uncertainty for NEET PG.

Wait for Permanent Registrations (PRs) for the pandemic-affected Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) continues even after an interim Medical Council, comprising six members, in the State has been formed.

On March 24, when the State government issued a Government Order for the constitution of a six-member interim Medical Council, a new ray of hope came for many FMGs who until then had been told that one of the reasons for delay in issuance of PRs was due to the lack of a council body.

The new interim council members took charge on April 1 and a board meeting was expected to take place immediately to decide on the chairman from among the six members. According to information, the chairman would take the final call on the FMG issue, but the meeting has been postponed at least twice between April 1 and 21.

In the meantime, the graduates’ worries are growing as the date for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) PG has been declared and the last date to apply for the exam is May 7.

“We cannot apply for the exam without having either Temporary or Permanent Registration,” Viplav (name changed) said, adding that while the PR was yet to be issued, the TR had lapsed for them. He said the council members were supportive, but unable to give a clear schedule.

If the PRs are not issued before May 7, many would have to give NEET a miss. Those who completed their one-year internships in May last year, in accordance with their allotment letters, are the most hit, as last year too, they had to skip NEET as PRs were not issued to them.

They were told that they would have to undergo another year of internship as per the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines to obtain a PR. Insistence on a two-year internship sparked protests in the State and the PR process remained in limbo for a long time.