Foreign Medical Graduates Face Ongoing Registration Delays in Andhra Pradesh

Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) in Andhra Pradesh continue to face significant delays in obtaining their Permanent Registrations (PRs). Despite a directive from the Andhra Pradesh High Court on July 9, 2023, mandating that the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council (APMC) grant PR to an appellant within one month, progress has been slow. The APMC’s recent actions raise concerns about the effectiveness of the court’s order and the council’s commitment to address the registration backlog.

The case centers around K. Vamsi, who was granted a favorable ruling by the High Court. Following the court’s order, the APMC filed a review petition which was subsequently dismissed, leading Vamsi to file a contempt petition against the council for its inaction. APMC chairperson D. Sreehari Rao noted that attempts to contact Vamsi revealed he is no longer interested in pursuing the registration.

The APMC claims they have been awaiting guidance from the National Medical Commission (NMC) on certain queries related to the registration process. Despite this, the council announced that it would proceed with the application process following a clarification provided by NMC counsel S. Vivek Chandra Sekhar during a court hearing on October 15, 2023.

Yet, many FMGs remain skeptical about the council’s intentions. One student expressed frustration over the lack of official communication, stating, “The council has not released any public notification stating that those who fall in the category of K. Vamsi would be granted PRs. How can we trust them?” The uncertainty is palpable among FMGs, many of whom have recently initiated legal action to challenge the APMC’s decisions.

In a letter dated August 7, 2023, the APMC informed FMGs that they would be required to complete an additional two years of internship, citing insufficient completion of “equivalent in-person training” during their online studies in India. However, sources within the NMC indicated that FMGs who participated in online classes for nine months should not be required to remain at their parent universities for an equivalent duration to qualify for a one-year internship.

This situation is compounded by the fact that many FMGs returned to India during the pandemic to continue their studies, successfully passing the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination and completing their allotted internships. Yet, upon visiting the council to collect their PRs, they were informed of the new internship requirements.

The NMC’s public notification on June 19, 2024, stated that those who returned to their parent universities abroad and sufficiently compensated for their clinical training should be allotted a one-year internship. The phrase “sufficient compensation” has led to considerable confusion among FMGs, according to Sreehari Rao, who acknowledged that this ambiguity has contributed to the delays in processing applications.

FMGs are also drawing comparisons to the practices of other states, where they believe a more streamlined process is in place. “When other states are following one rule, why should Andhra Pradesh follow another? While our batchmates in other states have completed their internships, received their PRs, and are moving on, we are stuck fighting for justice,” remarked another FMG.

In a recent development, a fresh batch of 32 FMGs filed a writ petition that was heard on November 11, 2023, with the case adjourned to November 18, 2023. Although Sreehari Rao has stated that the process for issuing PRs will commence soon, many FMGs remain apprehensive. A group of them, wishing to remain anonymous, expressed their collective uncertainty, stating, “If the APMC is intent on granting PRs to others, it should release a public notification. We cannot trust the council yet.”

As the situation evolves, the FMGs continue to seek clarity and resolution, grappling with the complexities of a system that appears to be moving slowly, despite the legal backing they have received.