
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Medical Council (APMC) has reaffirmed that permanent registrations (PRs) will only be issued to Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who comply with National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines and have their degrees verified by the respective Indian Embassies.
The clarification comes amid continuous protests by FMGs seeking permanent registration and a reduction in internship periods for those who completed online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council’s Stand on FMG Registration
The APMC emphasized that its Registrar does not have the authority to unilaterally implement NMC guidelines—decisions must be taken by the General Body of the Council.
“Currently, APMC is issuing PRs to eligible FMGs who have complied with NMC guidelines after receiving confirmation from the concerned Indian Embassies,” stated the Council.
The Council also referenced NMC guidelines (November 22, 2023), which stipulate:
- FMGs with final-year online classes: Two-year internship (1-year clinical clerkship + 1-year internship).
- FMGs with both penultimate and final years online: Three-year internship (2-year clinical clerkship + 1-year internship).
However, some FMGs refused to comply with these rules, submitting compensation letters from their universities. The NMC rejected these letters, citing insufficient details to verify compensation.
“FMGs who have not sufficiently compensated for online study and are refusing the additional internship have their PRs placed on hold,” the APMC clarified.
A group of 25 FMGs has filed a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, with the hearing scheduled for January 28, 2025.
FMG Association Reacts
The AIMSA-FMSW (Andhra Pradesh FMG Association) expressed disappointment over APMC’s handling of the issue.
“Despite eight months of representations, APMC has failed to address our concerns,” the association stated.
The FMGs argue that APMC is assigning incorrect internship durations, often imposing two or three years instead of the mandated one year for students with compensated online studies.
“APMC’s criteria for internship duration (<6 months online = 1 year, 6-18 months = 2 years, >18 months = 3 years) contradicts NMC rules,” AIMSA-FMSW claimed.
Additionally, FMGs raised concerns over delays in PR issuance, affecting students who completed internships eight months ago and risk missing postgraduate (PG) applications due to the February 3rd deadline.
FMGs Demand Transparency & Fair Treatment
The association urged APMC to:
✅ Align internship durations with NMC guidelines.
✅ Issue PRs to eligible FMGs without delays.
✅ Provide clear counseling guidelines.
✅ Release Temporary Registrations (TRs) & No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
As FMG protests continue, the medical community awaits the High Court’s decision, which could shape the future of foreign medical graduates in Andhra Pradesh.