Good News! Indian Medical Graduates Can Now Practice in US, Canada And Australia

Behind migration of Indian medical students, less fees or fake biz model?

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Here is some relief and good news for Indian medical graduates who will now be able to practice in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This move comes after The National Medical Commission (NMC), India, has been being awarded the coveted World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) Recognition Status for a tenure of 10 years, according to a press release from the Union Health Ministry.  

“As part of this recognition, all the 706 existing medical colleges in India will become WFME accredited and the new medical colleges that will be set up in the coming 10 years will automatically become WFME accredited. The recognition will further enhance the quality and standards of medical education in India by aligning them with the global best practices and benchmarks," read the official press release by MoHFW. NMC will get an official award letter and a recognition certificate in this regard.

This also means, India will turn into an attractive destination for international students due to the globally recognised standards.

“WFME’s recognition underscores that the quality of medical education in India adheres to global standards. This accolade empowers our students with the opportunity to pursue their careers anywhere in the world, while also making India an attractive destination for international students due to our globally recognized standards," Dr Yogender Malik, Member of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board and Head Media Division at NMC said.

The release stated that the Education Commission on Foreign Medical Education (ECFMG) is the primary body in the United States that oversees the policies and regulations around licensing International Medical Graduates (IMGs). In order to take the USMLEs, and to apply for residency all IMGs must be certified by ECFMG.

The Education Commission on Foreign Medical Education (ECFMG) is the primary body in the United States that oversees the policies and regulations around licensing International Medical Graduates (IMGs). 

In order to take the USMLEs, and to apply for residency all IMGs must be certified by ECFMG.  This certification typically takes place after the completion of the 2nd year of a medical program, and before taking the USMLE Step 1 examination.

In 2010, the ECFMG announced a new requirement that will become effective in the year 2024 (was set for 2023 but was moved to 2024 due to COVID). 

The new rule states that "starting in 2024, individuals applying for ECFMG Certification must be a student or graduate of a medical school that is appropriately accredited. More specifically, the school must be accredited by an accrediting agency that is officially recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)."

The WFME recognition process entails a fee of ₹ 4,98,5142 ($60,000) per medical college, which covers the expenses of the site visit team and their travel and accommodation.