AP High Court Directs APMC to Grant Provisional Registration to Foreign Medical Graduates

Swift Summary

• Andhra Pradesh High Court’s Division Bench overturned an earlier ruling by a Single Judge bench regarding Permanent Registrations (PR) for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs).
• The court directed the Andhra Pradesh medical Council (APMC) to issue PRs to eligible candidates based on the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) june 19, 2024 notification within one month.
• FMGs had previously filed a writ petition claiming denial of PR despite completing a mandatory one-year internship.
• APMC had cited earlier NMC guidelines and questioned sufficient compensation for online classes undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The June 19, 2024 notification clarified eligibility for FMGs who compensated online studies with offline coursework and final exams, allowing them to undergo a one-year internship rather of two or more years.
• Many indian states followed the revised guidelines; though, Andhra Pradesh initially adhered to stricter previous mandates but has now been directed to comply with updated rules after High Court review.
• The court emphasized that while APMC can verify documents for authenticity, it must complete its action by August 9 if criteria are met.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The judgment is pivotal for Foreign Medical Graduates facing uncertainties about professional accreditation in India due to discrepancies between state-level implementation and national regulatory amendments. By affirming compliance with NMC’s revised guidelines from June 2024, which balance adaptability regarding pandemic-related study interruptions against stringent verification protocols, this decision sets precedent likely extending beyond Andhra Pradesh.The legal intervention underscores the importance of clear policy frameworks adaptable under extraordinary circumstances like COVID-19 while protecting educational standards via document scrutiny. Wider adoption across states may reduce procedural inconsistencies nationwide and eliminate delays faced by qualified candidates seeking registration.

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