0
0
New Delhi, April 30, 2025: In a significant move to address the ongoing challenges faced by Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) in Delhi, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved the Delhi Medical Council’s (DMC) proposal to relax the mandatory stipend requirement for FMGs seeking internship placements at Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) hospitals. This decision comes as a relief for many FMGs who have been unable to complete their compulsory one-year internship-a prerequisite for medical registration and eligibility for postgraduate entrance exams in India-due to a lack of available positions and budgetary constraints for stipends at MCD-run facilities7.
Background: The Stipend Stalemate
Under existing regulations, FMGs must complete a year-long Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) in India to practice medicine. While premier institutions like Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) offer the required Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) departments for this training, many non-teaching hospitals-such as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital, Ganga Ram, and BLK Max Hospital-do not. FMGs interning at these facilities must fulfill a three-month PSM posting at MCD hospitals, which has proven difficult due to administrative and financial hurdles7.
The situation worsened after a Supreme Court directive mandated equal stipend payments for FMGs and their Indian counterparts during internships. In response, the MCD, citing budgetary limitations, halted the allotment of internship positions to FMGs, leaving many in limbo and unable to progress in their medical careers7.
NMC’s One-Time Relaxation
Recognizing the urgency and the impact on students’ futures, the DMC appealed to the NMC for a relaxation of the stipend condition, specifically for FMGs willing to forgo payment. The NMC, while reiterating that stipend disbursement falls under state jurisdiction as per the FMGL Regulations, 2021, agreed to the proposal in the interest of facilitating timely completion of internships for FMGs and mitigating the financial burden on the MCD7.
In its communication to the DMC, the NMC clarified:
“As per FMGL Regulations, 2021, grant of stipend to interns is a State matter and NMC is only a regulatory body. However, keeping in view the best interests of students, and financial implication to provide stipend by Municipal Corporation of Delhi; the National Medical Commission has no objection to the proposal of Delhi Medical Council to relax the condition to pay stipend to FMGs who are willing to forgo the stipend.”7
This exceptional measure is intended to expedite the placement of FMGs in MCD hospitals and ensure they do not face further delays in their professional journey.
Implications and Next Steps
The decision is expected to clear the backlog of FMGs awaiting internship positions in Delhi and help them fulfill the regulatory requirements for medical registration and postgraduate studies. However, it also draws attention to the ongoing challenges of funding and resource allocation for medical training in India’s public health system.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information reported by Medical Dialogues and official communications from the National Medical Commission as of April 29, 2025. Policy decisions and guidelines are subject to change. Readers are advised to consult the latest notifications from the NMC and Delhi Medical Council for current and official information regarding FMG internships and stipend policies7.
Citations:
