0
0
Thousands of Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who recently cleared the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) are facing significant delays in obtaining their passing certificates, jeopardizing their chances of securing crucial internship opportunities. The issue has sparked concerns among medical professionals, with calls for urgent action to streamline the process.
Dr. Ashwini Dalmiya, President Elect of the Delhi Medical Association and an Executive member of the Delhi Medical Council, brought the matter to light in a tweet, highlighting the slow pace of certificate issuance by the National Board of Examinations (NBE). “NBE issues only 250 passing certificates/day to FMG as directed by CBI after biometrics etc. @NbeIndia need to increase manpower because many lose the opportunity to apply for internships @official_afa_ or direct all SMCs to accept result score @NMC_IND,” he tweeted.
In an interview with EdexLive, Dr. Dalmiya elaborated on the bureaucratic bottleneck. He explained that the NBE is currently issuing only 250 certificates per day, with each verification process taking approximately one hour per student. This sluggish pace is causing severe delays for the estimated 13,000 FMGs who passed the recent FMGE, out of nearly 40,000 applicants.
The stringent verification process, which includes biometric authentication, was implemented following instances of fraudulent FMG registrations and subsequent Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiries into state medical councils. This process, while intended to ensure the integrity of the registration system, has resulted in extended waiting periods for FMGs.
“This process alone takes more than two months,” Dr. Dalmiya stated, emphasizing the frustration experienced by FMGs who have passed the exam but are unable to proceed with their medical careers due to the certificate delays. He further pointed out that the alphabetical order of verification is causing additional delays for candidates from certain regions, such as Ukraine, who are missing critical internship deadlines.
The lack of an official response from the NBE has compounded the frustration among FMGs. Dr. Dalmiya stressed the need for better coordination between the National Medical Commission (NMC), state medical councils, and the NBE.
“Nobody wants to take risks after the scams that surfaced, so authorities are in favour of rigorous scrutiny,” he said. “However, the key issue here is manpower. Increasing staff for the verification process would be the most practical solution to ease the suffering of FMGs.”
As FMGs continue to grapple with these bureaucratic hurdles, the urgency for a swift resolution grows. Without immediate action, another cohort of medical graduates may face similar delays in the coming year, further hindering their professional development.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided by Dr. Ashwini Dalmiya and EdexLive. The accuracy of the claims regarding the number of certificates issued daily and the verification process is based on the information provided in the original source, and may be subject to change or further official statements from the NBE or relevant authorities.(https://www.edexlive.com/news/2025/Mar/21/bureaucratic-delays-leave-fmg-graduates-in-limbo-only-250-certificates-get-issued-per-day)
