National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a stern warning to students and parents about the dangers of joining unapproved medical colleges in India. In this regard, the commission has encouraged students to double-check the accreditation status of the medical institutions they wish to join before submitting their admission forms, especially in light of some colleges operating without official approval. This warning follows increased concern about fake activities by some educational institutions that have been deceiving students by providing admissions to medical courses without legal authorization from the NMC. 

The NMC in its formal circular strongly advised all stakeholders to exercise vigilance and prudence in choosing medical colleges. It was made explicit by the commission that only institutions that are officially listed and recognized on the website of the NMC are legally certified to provide MBBS and other medical degree courses in India. Any medical college that doesn’t find a mention in this official list is considered unauthorized and violating the regulations of the NMC. In order to facilitate informed choice-making by prospective learners and their parents, the commission keeps its list updated in regular intervals.

The NMC also highlighted two particular institutions that are presently facing legal scrutiny for purportedly providing medical courses without NMC recognition. Singhania University in Rajasthan is one such institution which is facing judicial review. The university is facing a legal case with the title “Ranjana Jangra and others vs State of Rajasthan and others” (SBCWP NO 7682/2022) pending before the Rajasthan High Court. Earlier, the erstwhile Board of Governors had released public notices cautioning the general public against Singhania University’s fake admission invitations for MBBS courses, since the university had not been given the requisite permissions by the Board. The NMC also amplified this warning, requesting all such students and parents to check any medical college’s status on the official site of NMC before they go ahead with the admissions.

Likewise, Sanjiban Hospital and Medical College in the city of Howrah, West Bengal, has also been questioned. The NMC has come to know that this college is operating medical courses without proper approval. Legal proceedings are presently in place against this college for going against regulatory norms established by the commission.

Apart from these admonitions regarding illicit institutions in India, the NMC has also issued guidelines for Indian students opting for medical education outside India. The commission emphasized following the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021, which stipulate the qualification requirements of foreign medical graduates (FMGs) to pursue medicine in India. The regulations place strict criteria on the length, quality, and acceptance of foreign medical education.

As per the FMGL Regulations, students are required to undergo a minimum of 54 months of medical education at a single foreign university. This includes a mandatory 12-month internship performed at the same university, which provides continuity of clinical training. The commission also requires the use of English as the medium of instruction, and the curriculum should include the compulsory subjects listed in Schedule I of the regulations. Further, the foreign institution must be duly registered with the equivalent professional regulatory organization of its home country, which should have jurisdiction to issue a license to practice medicine equivalent to the license issued to native-born citizens.

The NMC went on to spell out further that foreign medical graduates have to complete at least a twelve-month-supervised internship in India before they are awarded permanent registration to practice medicine. This internship is mandatory and can be done only upon application to the commission. Disqualification from any of these can lead to disqualification from the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), which is a prerequisite for licensing in India. The commission explicitly placed the responsibility on the students to ensure they attend compliant institutions abroad, warning that failure to do so would lead to ineligibility for the licensing exam and hence the inability to practice medicine in India.

In its letter, the NMC stressed the need for caution among medical entrants and their relatives to safeguard themselves against falling into the hands of illegal institutions and to uphold the integrity of the Indian medical education system. The advisory by the commission is an important reminder to check all information about college recognition and compliance before taking any decision.

This warning by the NMC reflects the continuous efforts aimed at safeguarding the quality of medical education in India and the protection of students from fraudulent educational providers. Considering the high stakes of a medical career, students are encouraged to take formal information sources seriously and to be careful with decisions related to educational choices in India or elsewhere. The NMC continues maintaining transparency while efficiently implementing regulations to ensure standards in medical training and practice.