Nepal’s Medical Education Falling Short of FMGL Regulations 2021 Standards
Medical Colleges in Nepal initiate counselling rounds for MBBS course in their respective colleges. However, experts warn Indian medical aspirants that many medical colleges in Nepal fail to meet the requirements laid down by the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations 2021 to practice in India.
Indian students enrolled after 2021 or are planning to enroll in medical education in Nepal have to face uncertainty. Around 700 – 900 Indian students were misled by Nepal Medical Commission (NMC) with a promise to provide licenses to International students to practice medicine in Nepal. However, the Commission issued a circular in the National Gazette (Nepal Rajpatra) on April 12, 2023, stating that the Nepal Medical Commission would not provide Licenses to International students.
Furthermore, the Nepal Medical Commission has clarified that while International students can take the licensing exam in Nepal, they will not receive a permanent practicing license equivalent to that of Nepali graduates.
On October 17, 2024, the Association of Private Medical & Dental College of Nepal issued a circular assuring that international students are eligible for registration upon their return to their home countries.
According to Dr. B. Srinivas, Secretary of the National Medical Commission in India, he stated “India issues good standing certificates to students who have studied in India. However, the medical education regulatory body in India cannot provide this certificate to students who graduated from colleges in Nepal or other countries.”
