According to a medical bulletin on tuesday put out by the NBE, on page 32, it mentions that those who wish to appear for the Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE) need to have their Primary Medical qualification degree certificate duly attested by the Embassy of india in the country from where the qualification has been obtained. Experts estimate that around 20,000 students are studying in china, out of which a majority of them are studying medicine. When the number of COVID-19 cases began to surge in china earlier this year, many of the students managed to head back home to safety.
Moreover the medical degree in china is a 6 year course, with five years of academics followed by one year of internship. A provisional degree certificate is provided by the respective universities, to whoever has completed their 5 year course. The degree certificate is given to only those who have graduated after completing the entire 6 year course. Earlier, those with a provisional degree certificate could attempt the FMGE. But the change in rules means a number of indian students who are in their final year of medicine will be unable to sit for the exam.
Arushi Aggarwal, who is in her fifth year of studying medicine at the Southern Medical university in China’s Guangzhou said, “When I had to return to india, I never expected that it would take so long for things to get back to normal. To make use of the time, I decided to prepare for the FMGE. After the latest bulletin was released, I’m now worried about my future.” As the students wait with bated breath, hoping that the eligibility rules will be amended, they are continuing their preparation for the exam and wishing that the situation gets back to normal soon.
