New Delhi: A group of Indian medical students has sought urgent intervention from the Union Health Ministry and the National Medical Commission (NMC), alleging that the Philippines medical education system does not comply with the Foreign Medical Graduates Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations 2021.
Appeal to Authorities in India and Philippines
The representation has been addressed to the Union Health Minister, External Affairs Minister, Home Minister, officials of the NMC, state medical councils, and the Indian Embassy in Manila. It has also been shared with senior officials of the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHED), including its Legal and International Affairs Directors.
Course Duration Discrepancy Alleged
Students pointed out that the MD programme in the Philippines—considered equivalent to MBBS in India—runs for only 48 months (4 years), contrary to the NMC’s mandated 54 months. They further alleged that Indian students are barred from undergoing the 12-month internship in accredited hospitals across the Philippines, citing an advisory issued by the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) on August 13, 2025.
Bar on Foreigners in Licensure Exam
The petitioners highlighted that under the Philippines Medical Act of 1959, only Filipino citizens are eligible to sit for the Philippine Licensure Examination (PLE). This law, reinforced by the APMC advisory, effectively blocks Indian graduates from pursuing medical practice in the Philippines, leaving them ineligible for licensing within the country.
FMGL 2021 Regulations Explained
As per the FMGL 2021 rules, no foreign graduate can secure permanent registration in India unless the degree spans at least 54 months, is followed by a 12-month internship in the same foreign institution, and the graduate is eligible for licensure in that country. Candidates must also clear the National Exit Test (NExT) or any other mandated exam in India.
Students Fear Loss of Career
The students argued that thousands of Indian aspirants who enrolled in the Philippines after November 2021 may lose their future prospects despite investing lakhs of rupees. They alleged that many medical colleges run composite BS + MD programmes, where neither stage meets the 4.5-year requirement. Around 10,000 students were affected, they claimed, despite the NMC granting a one-time relief in December 2023 for those admitted before the FMGL rules came into force.
Allegations Against Agents and Colleges
Students further accused Indian recruitment agents of misleading them by producing “fake or manipulated letters” from Philippine authorities to suggest compliance with NMC rules. They alleged that some colleges falsely advertise extending the course duration by six months for Indian students without officially altering the curriculum, while agents overcharge fees by many times compared to the actual cost in the Philippines.
Call for Government Action
Terming the BS course the “most cheated programme,” students urged the NMC, Indian Embassy in Manila, and CHED to step in immediately. They demanded strict action against fraudulent agents and institutions, claiming that the ongoing malpractices are jeopardising not only their money but also their medical careers. Evidence, they said, has been submitted to both Indian and Philippine authorities for urgent review.
