HC Relief: FMG with MBBS equivalent from Abroad allowed PG Medical Admission in Deemed University

The Rule 82 of MCI NEET PG policy deals with the debarment of medicos with MBBS degrees from foreign universities from pursuing PG courses in medicine in Indian universities.

Mumbai: With the Maharashtra government saying that it has no objection with the Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) who completed MBBS equivalent degree course from Russia pursuing PG medical course from Indian deemed universities; the Bombay high court has made its interim order absolute allowing the doctor to pursue his PG medical educaito.

During an earlier hearing on the case, the HC had granted interim relief to the medico allowing him to take admission in a deemed university offering PG medical courses. The state, at that time, was directed to file its standpoint on the decision.

The Hindustan Times reports about this case where Dr Shantanu Chandrasekhar, who had got an MD degree, equivalent to MBBS, from a Russian university in 2015; had filed a petition challenging the Rule 82 of NEET PG 2017 policy set by the apex Medical Council of India (MCI).

The said Rule 82 of MCI NEET PG policy deals with the debarment of medicos with MBBS degrees from foreign universities from pursuing PG courses in medicine in Indian universities.

He had passed the MCI eligibility test and completed an internship at a Delhi hospital in 2017. However, when he wanted to appear for the NEET-PG 2017 exam, he was barred based on rule 82.

The petitioner contended against the policy in the court, on the grounds that while a doctor with a foreign degree was allowed to practice in Indian hospitals, he or she is restricted from pursuing PG studies in government or any deemed university.

The counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner termed the policy as arbitrary and asked for directions for it to be set aside.

According to the rules, any candidate who holds a foreign medical degree and has cleared the eligibility test and completed internship in India is eligible to take admission for PG courses in deemed universities, the counsel for MCI apprised the bench.

Noting the submission, the HC bench passed an interim order and allowed the petitioner FMG to take admission in Indian deemed university. The state was directed to file its stance.

Now on August 28^th, after counsel for the state said that the government has no problem in Dr Chandrashekhar pursuing the PG medical course in a deemed university, the division bench of Justices Akil Kureshi and SJ Kathawalla said that it was making the "interim relief absolute", reports HT.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in a 4-year 2015-2018 break-up of the number of qualified and failed students who sat for the screening exam, data provided by NBE shows that 11,724 candidates completed their UG medical education from Russia.

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