Foreign Medical Graduate Examination Being Conducted Amidst Tight Security, Says Health Ministry

According to a public statement released by Ministry of Health, the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE)June 2024 Session is scheduled to be held on July 6, 2024 at 71 centres in 50 cities in 21 States. 255 appraisers have been appointed for 71 centres. 53 faculty members have been appointed as flying squad. Director General of Health Services has nominated 71 members to visit the exam centres. 42 National Board of Examination Medical Sciences (NBEMS) staff has been deputed at these centres.

Mahesh. K (name changed to protect identity) continues to be haunted by the night of February 24, 2022. The thunderous noise and the sound of shattering glass continues to ring in his ears to this day. The next morning, he learnt that Ukraine was under attack by Russian forces.

At 21, Kumar had experienced an aerial bombardment, something most people don’t in a lifetime. He was evacuated in a week, going back in January last year to finish the six-year MBBS programme at Odessa National Medical University.

“Bombs were raining literally and even the neighbourhood was not visible in the resultant dust and smoke. I almost stared at death in the eyes. When I eventually made it back, my parents were relieved to see me in one piece,” he recalls.

On a complaint filed by the health ministry, the CBI has initiated a probe to ascertain how dozens of foreign medical graduates allegedly got themselves registered with the state medical councils (SMCs) or Medical Council of India (MCI) without qualifying the foreign medical graduate examination (FMGE).

At least 73 such candidates, who studied medicine in different countries, are under the scanner, sources said adding that many of these candidates studied in Russia, Ukraine and China between 2011 and 2022.