Georgia medical degree row: NMC says local practice licence is needed before graduates take FMGE

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has clarified an eligibility condition for students completing medical education in Georgia. A foreign medical graduate must hold a licence to practise medicine in the country where the qualification was obtained before being eligible for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in India.The clarification follows questions over Georgia’s six-year medical degree, known as MD, and whether the “junior doctor” status after graduation meets India’s licensing requirement.What NMC has clarifiedThe NMC referred to Regulation 4(b) of the National Medical Commission (Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate) Regulations, 2021. It states that a foreign medical graduate must be registered or licensed by the medical regulator of the country and be able to practise medicine independently on terms comparable with those applicable to that country’s medical graduates.In its response to a grievance filed by Bhawna through the PM Grievance Portal, the NMC said a “junior doctor” designation would satisfy the requirement only if it legally permits medical practice.The regulator further stated that if independent medical practice in Georgia is permitted only after postgraduate certification, junior doctor status alone would not satisfy Regulation 4(b). The determination would depend on applicable Georgian law.Why the Georgia issue has surfacedA six-year medical programme in Georgia leads to an MD qualification. Graduates can work as junior doctors, but the role involves practice under the supervision of a certified specialist rather than independent practice.An advisory issued by the Embassy of India in Yerevan in September 2022 said students completing undergraduate medical studies in Georgia could work as junior doctors. It stated that independent practice requires passing the National Post-Diploma Qualifying Examination (NPDQE) in Georgian, completing postgraduate education or residency in the specialty, and obtaining a licence for independent practice.Postgraduate or residency training can take one to four years depending on the specialty. Knowledge of Georgian is required for the independent licensing route.Concern over counselling claimsBhawna alleged that education consultants, allegedly working with Georgian colleges, were telling students that completing the six-year MD course and working as a junior doctor would make them eligible for the FMGE.The NMC clarification says junior doctor status alone cannot be treated as equivalent to an independent medical licence where Georgian law requires training, examination or licensing.Get the latest Education News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.