Foreign medical MBBS students across Gujarat have submitted petitions to the Governor, seeking to reduce their internship period from two years to one year arguing that the current system is unjust.
Under the existing rules, these students are required to complete a two-year internship without receiving any stipend from the monthly allowance of Rs. 18,000. This has left approximately 1,400 FMG MBBS students without any financial support during their internships.
These students, currently serving as interns in various medical colleges and hospitals in Gujarat, have been asked to extend their internships to two years due to the shift to online study during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they point out that despite similar online studies in Gujarat, no MBBS student in India has been required to intern for more than one year and one day as per the rules. They also note that students who passed the FMGE exam in December 2021 and June 2022 have been given direct permanent registration without any internship, leading to a perceived disparity.
The students argue that the current system, which requires 5.5 years of MBBS study, 6 months to 1.5 years to clear the FMGE exam and a 2-year internship, results in a total of 8 to 9 years to complete their MBBS. They contend that this is inappropriate, particularly given the lack of a stipend. Many of these students, who are studying on bank loans or social welfare loans, are receiving loan repayment notices, adding to their financial stress.
The students have submitted their petitions to the governor through the collector’s office in various districts, including Morbi, Junagadh, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Amreli, Rajkot and Surat. They have also presented their case in person to the Chief Minister at the Gandhinagar Secretariat and to the Minister of Health and Family Welfare Department, Rishikesh Patel. Despite these efforts, they have not yet found a solution and have made a strong representation for justice at the office of the Gujarat Medical Council. If their concerns are not addressed, students may resort to nonviolent protest.
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