NMC clarification on compulsory onsite compensation for FMG online classes triggers strong backlash
Summary of the NMC clarification
New Delhi — The National Medical Commission (NMC) recently issued a clarification asserting that foreign medical graduates (FMGs) who undertook substantial portions of their MBBS education online during the COVID-19 pandemic may need to undergo mandatory physical onsite compensation training. The Commission set out different treatments based on the date of admission and specified conditions under which prior foreign clinical experience will be recognised for the purpose of screening and licensure.
According to the clarification, students admitted to foreign medical institutions on or before November 18, 2021 — the date when the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021 were notified — will be considered under the Screening Test Regulations provided they have: (1) compensated their online classes through physical onsite clinical or theory training; (2) completed one year of internship at their foreign medical institution; and (3) passed an examination equivalent to the MBBS exam in India. Students who enrolled after November 18, 2021 are to be governed by the FMGL Regulations, 2021 and are required to complete one year of mandatory internship in India in accordance with the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) Regulations, 2021.
The Commission also clarified two additional points: compensation for online classes will not be accepted unless the study period is extended to accommodate the additional in-person training; and foreign medical institutions cannot issue certificates of compensation unless students have actually undergone the extra physical training corresponding to the online duration.
Immediate professional pushback and calls for withdrawal
The clarification provoked swift and widespread criticism from the medical fraternity, with several representative organisations demanding immediate withdrawal of the notice and calling the requirement unfair and retrospective.
The Democratic Medical Association (DMA India) issued a detailed objection, stressing that the COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented, global disruption to education systems. DMA emphasised that online instruction during lockdowns, international travel restrictions and public-health measures was an unavoidable, institution-led arrangement rather than an elective choice by students. The association argued that applying new compensatory requirements years after the fact imposes an unreasonable burden on students who enrolled under the regulatory framework then in place, and who invested significant time and finances to complete their training under challenging circumstances.
DMA also noted that FMGs already face multiple regulatory safeguards: qualifying examinations such as the FMGE/NExT and completion of mandatory internship requirements in India. The association urged recognition of those existing competency assessments as sufficient to establish clinical competence and warned that retrospective imposition of new physical training demands could create unnecessary barriers for candidates who acted in good faith during a global emergency.
Dr Amit Vyas, National President of DMA, reiterated these points to medichelpline and urged Government of India and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to intervene and direct the NMC to withdraw the notice. He warned that failure to promptly resolve the matter could intensify opposition from within the medical community.
Views from other associations and practitioners
Multiple professional bodies and individual practitioners echoed similar concerns:
– Representatives from the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) described the notice as difficult for FMGs to accept, arguing that asking students to repeat substantial portions of training in-person years later is inequitable when the shift to online learning was not their fault.
– FAIMA Patron Dr Sandeep Dagar acknowledged the NMC’s stated objective of preserving uniform educational standards and ensuring clinical exposure for entrants to the Indian healthcare system, but emphasised that any approach must be fair and pragmatic. He urged a focus on delivering adequate hands-on clinical training rather than creating retrospective hurdles.
– The All FMGs Association (AFA) demanded immediate clarification and withdrawal of the public notice dated 06/03/26. AFA referenced an Andhra Pradesh High Court verdict, asserting the Court had cautioned against repeatedly issued late circulars and internal clarifications that perpetuate uncertainty and “mental agony” for students who have completed courses, FMGE and internships. In that judgement the Court reportedly characterised an interpretation by the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council — requiring one-to-one offline repetition of online duration — as “absurd” and unsustainable.
– Dr Dhruv Chauhan, National Spokesperson for IMA-MSN, told medichelpline the directive raises serious concerns about retrospective penalisation, uncertainty and psychological stress for thousands of students who pursued online learning through no fault of their own. He called for transparent, consistent and compassionate policy decisions in medical education.
– Comments on social platforms from practising doctors and surgeons reflected frustration about shifting and inconsistent guidance for FMGs, including variable interpretations about internship durations and compensation requirements. Several users highlighted that FMGs typically face limited options domestically and undertake rigorous examinations and additional training on return, arguing they should not be unfairly stigmatised.
– The All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) reportedly wrote to the Union Health Minister seeking intervention, reiterating that global lockdowns and travel restrictions mandated online shifts and that retrospective onsite compensation requirements are unfair to those who completed courses under earlier rules.
Implications and next steps
The controversy centres on reconciling the NMC’s responsibility to ensure uniform clinical competence and patient safety with fairness to students who completed training during extraordinary global conditions. Stakeholders have asked the Commission and the Ministry to re-evaluate the directive, consider exemptions for pandemic-affected cohorts, and rely on established competency assessments such as FMGE/NExT and mandatory internships rather than imposing new retrospective physical-training obligations.
At present, the NMC clarification stands as published, while several national associations continue to press for withdrawal or revision. Government intervention, judicial review or further regulatory clarification may determine how the issue is resolved for thousands of FMG candidates who trained abroad during the pandemic. medichelpline will continue to monitor developments and report confirmed updates from the regulatory authorities and representative bodies.