NMC Releases New Draft Regulations For Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), Invites Comments

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released draft regulations on Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs). The foreign medical graduates will have to qualify a National Exit Test (NExT) within two years of completing the MBBS from abroad.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released draft regulations on Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs). The commission has also invited comments on the draft regulations. The foreign medical graduates will have to qualify a National Exit Test (NExT) within two years of completing the MBBS from abroad. The draft regulations mention the eligibility criteria for licensing those intending to practice medicine in India. As per the new draft regulations for FMGs, a person willing to practice in India after obtaining primary Medical qualifications have to qualify the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) until the National Exit Test (NExT) becomes operational. The National Exit Test (NExT) examination will be merged with FMGE and, as per the NMC draft regulations, NExT will consist of NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2. For FMGs, the first step will include an additional paper to assess the knowledge of pre and para-clinical subjects. Foreign Medical Graduates are required to qualify the screening test 1 in India (FMGE/NExT) within two years of completing the MBBS abroad.