Dear Fellows,

I am writing this petition with a deep sense of urgency and outrage against the recent decision by the National Medical Commission (NMC) as announced in the notice dated June 7, 2024. The notice mandates that any Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) who has undergone even a few online classes must now complete a 2-3 year internship, a stark increase from the previously required one-year internship. This decision represents a blatant act of discrimination and abuse of regulatory power, unjustly targeting FMGs who have already faced numerous challenges and adversities to pursue their medical education.

FMGs choose to study abroad not out of luxury, but often out of necessity. They strive to alleviate the financial burden on their families, making significant sacrifices to save their parents' hard-earned money. Unlike many students in Indian medical colleges who may have access to more resources, FMGs endure tremendous personal and financial hardships to fulfill their dreams of becoming doctors. The recent comments made by Dr. Aruna V. Vanikar, referring to FMGs as "a problem," are not only appalling but also deeply disrespectful to India's own sons and daughters who have shown extraordinary resilience and determination.

FMGs leave their homes and families for six long years, facing countless challenges such as Coping with cultural shocks, language barriers, and extreme weather conditions, managing finances amidst fluctuating currencies and economic instability, overcoming mental health struggles, loneliness, and homesickness or adapting to new environments, often amidst pandemics and even wars.

Despite these overwhelming obstacles, FMGs return to India with pride, eager to contribute to their homeland's healthcare system. They clear the rigorous Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), a hurdle that Indian medical graduates do not have to face. Yet, despite their qualifications and determination, FMGs continue to face systemic discrimination and a lack of recognition for their hard-earned degrees.

The NMC's new mandate is a clear manifestation of this discrimination. Indian medical students, who have also experienced online classes during the pandemic, are not subjected to the same extended internship requirement. This glaring inconsistency highlights a biased approach that undermines the value of FMGs' education and experience.

Furthermore, the inefficiencies of the medical councils in handling FMGs' queries, processing their documents, and allotting internships exacerbate the situation. FMGs often face prolonged delays, taking several months to even begin their internships. By the time they complete their extended internships, they are significantly behind their Indian counterparts, who are already advancing in their specializations and for a matter of fact even super specialisations.

We just demand equality, respect, and dignity for all medical graduates, regardless of where they received their training. FMGs are not just doctors; they are individuals with unparalleled resilience, emotional maturity, and a diverse set of skills. They deserve fair treatment and equal opportunities to serve their country.

We urge the concerned ministry and the National Medical Commission to withdraw this discriminatory circular immediately. It is imperative to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all medical professionals, ensuring that India remains a beacon of fairness and equality for FMGs.

We implore you to act swiftly and decisively to correct this injustice. Let us work together to restore dignity and respect to our fellow doctors, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, and friends. Let us make India a safe and equitable space for FMGs once again.

We appreciate your immediate attention to this critical issue and look forward to a positive resolution.

Sincerely,

All the undersigned warriors.

(Make the word "Jai Hind" Meaningful)

Below is the aforementioned circular.