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More than 160 Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) in Haryana have been left in a state of uncertainty after failing to secure internship seats during the first round of counselling conducted by the Haryana Medical Council (HMC). Despite clearing the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) over five months ago, these students remain unable to commence their mandatory internships due to a persistent shortage of seats in the state.
This year, the HMC announced approximately 490 internship seats, while over 650 FMGs had qualified and were eligible to apply. As a result, around 170 students did not receive placements and are currently not permitted to proceed with their medical careers1. Students highlight that this shortage is not a new problem, with similar issues recurring over the past two to three years without any meaningful resolution from authorities.
One affected student, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “The Haryana Medical Council and the government already know how many students pass each year, they have the data. Yet the number of internship seats remains limited.” The delay in securing internships has significant consequences: it postpones the students’ registration as doctors, prevents them from applying for postgraduate courses, and delays their entry into the workforce.
Students have pointed out that other states have responded more proactively to similar crises. For example, Rajasthan increased its internship seats from 1,000 to 1,700 within a few months when faced with higher numbers of eligible FMGs. In contrast, Haryana has not taken comparable action, and students report receiving only vague assurances from authorities.
Previously, some state governments have approved non-teaching hospitals to conduct internships for FMGs as a temporary measure, but no such steps have been announced in Haryana this year. The affected students are now demanding an additional round of counselling or a similar one-time relief from the state government to prevent further derailment of their careers.
“We’re not asking for special treatment. We only ask that the authorities acknowledge the crisis and take urgent steps so that our careers are not derailed further,” said one of the students.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information reported by EdexLive as of May 26, 2025. The situation regarding FMG internships in Haryana may evolve, and readers are advised to consult official sources or the Haryana Medical Council for the latest updates and decisions1.
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