NMC Extends Internship Permission in Non-Teaching Hospitals Till 2028, Relief for FMGs

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has delivered a critical lifeline to thousands of Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) and capacity-strained states, extending permission for crucial Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) placements in recognized non-teaching hospitals until May 2028. This move, announced via a public notice on May 24, 2026, immediately addresses the mounting pressure from FMGs facing prolonged career delays and states grappling with acute internship seat shortage, particularly exacerbated by the return of students from conflict zones. The decision marks a pragmatic, albeit temporary, retreat from the NMC long-term vision of centralizing all medical internships within teaching hospitals, a goal currently unachievable given India's medical infrastructure deficit. States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh have been at the forefront of appeals to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, highlighting their inability to absorb the surge of FMGs, many of whom returned en masse following the 2022 Ukraine conflict. FMG advocacy groups, including the FMGs' Welfare Association of India (FWAI), had previously warned of a looming mental health crisis among graduates unable to complete their mandatory training and secure medical registration. While a reprieve, the extension comes with stricter conditions, tasking State Medical Councils with rigorous oversight of non-teaching hospitals to ensure quality training and mandating a 10% annual increase in FMG capacity. This puts the onus on states to rapidly upgrade facilities and for hospitals to comply. The long-term challenge of standardizing FMG integration and addressing the underlying infrastructure gaps in medical education remains, with stakeholders now watching for the NMC next steps as the May 2028 deadline looms.