Now, Clinical Apprenticeship Program to be launched for Foreign Medical Graduates preparing for FMGE

New Delhi: Bringing good news to FMGE candidates preparing for MCI screening test, the Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), Association of National Board Accredited Institutions (ANBAI) and M S Ramaiah Institution have come up with Foreign Medical Graduates Clinical Apprenticeship Program (FMGCAP).

The primary reason for the launch of this programme is to address the lack of understanding of Indian healthcare system and provide hands-on experience to the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who have done their MBBS from Abroad. The move comes in the wake of the dismal performance in 2015-2018 FMGE i.e. a passing percentage of mere 14.2 %; as per the data published by the National Board of Examinations (NBE).

The entrance examination, Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) is an examination mandatory for all FMGs in order to be able to practice in India.

In a 4-year breakup of the number of qualified and failed students who sat for the screening exam, data provided by NBE shows that only 8,764 Indian students passed the test out of the 61, 708 applicants who had acquired UG medical degree from 461 medical colleges in 59 countries.

The medical institutions / Universities of foreign countries admit Indian students without proper assessment or screening of the students' academic ability to cope up with medical education with the result that many students fail to qualify the FMGE. Keeping in view of the same, MCI regulations have been amended to make it mandatory for the Indian students to qualify NEET to pursue the foreign medical course.

Read Also: More failures than passes with MBBS aboard: NBE releases three-year FMGE report card, Get country wise and college wise details

As a result of this passing percentage, over 15,000 Foreign Medical Graduates are yet to clear the FMGE exam and are not entitled to practice till completion of the FMGE. The primary reason for the launch of this programme is to address the lack of understanding of Indian healthcare system and provide hands-on experience to the medicos.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Alex Thomas, President AHPI, "This program is conceptualized, implemented and supported by Indian Healthcare experts, in partnership with leading hospitals, and aims at creating more qualified doctors so as to bridge skill gaps and create the required awareness through an intensive observership program combined with a closely monitored and guided learning and assessment process."

The course which has a duration of 6 months comprises of E-Learning modules and continuous assessment on LMExcellence. After pursuing this course, the medicos will get postings in leading hospitals in Bangalore.