Indian Medical Students from China, find it difficult in India

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has made it adequately clear that those who have done internships in China as part of their MBBS study curriculum will be allowed to register and practice medicine in India provided they clear the screening test for foreign medical graduates. The clarification has come in face of the queries that have come the Ministry’s way from both the Indian Embassy in Beijing and the Indian High Commission in Shanghai.

An interesting fact that has come to light in the last three years is that only 6 to 8 % medical graduates from China who sat for the FMGE managed to pass it. The Chinese degree happens to cost less the European one; leading to a growing number of Indians heading the China way. The Chinese UG medical degree costs Rs. 20-25 lakh which is inclusive of a four and a half year degree along with a one year internship.

The Indian medical industry however, not happy with the Chinese medical outcome and has now started insisting on another year internship in India, before taking on undergraduates from China. The reason for the insistence on an additional intership year by the Indian medical industry, comes across clear in the data presented by the National Board of Examinations,(NBE), which conducts the FMGE.

Of the 3,935 graduates from China who appeared for the test in 2014, 352 (8.9 per cent) passed it. In 2015, 3,536 candidates appeared, only 275 (7.7 per cent) passed. The next year, 3,772 candidates appeared, however only 261 (6.9 per cent) cleared.

The Union Health Ministry has made it adequately clear those who have done internships in China as part of their MBBS study curriculum will be allowed to register and practice medicine in India provided they clear the screening test for foreign medical graduates. The clarification has come in face of the queries that have come the ministry’s way from both the Indian embassy in Beijing and the Indian High Commission in Shanghai.

FMGE the screening test that has to be cleared by foreign medical graduates before registering with the apex medical educator, the MCI has an average pass percentage of 20-25 per cent. It is believed the additional 1 year internship being asked for by the medical industry is due to the difference in pass percentage.

“The Indian High Commission in Shanghai and the Embassy in Beijing had raised doubts about whether internship in China is acceptable in India. We have clarified it is. It is not mandatory for students to do another 12-month internship here. That was the position earlier, too,” stated a Health Ministry official to the Indian Express. He further clarified MCI rules require a graduate to complete a one-year internship for registration.