Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 3

India’s medical education regulator has issued a fresh warning to students seeking to pursue medical degrees abroad, cautioning that enrollment in certain foreign institutions – particularly in Uzbekistan – could jeopardize their ability to practice medicine in India.

The advisory, issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on April 1, urges prospective candidates and their families to carefully verify the credentials of overseas colleges before securing admission to undergraduate medical programs.

Officials said several institutions abroad do not meet the standards set under the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021, raising concerns about the validity of their degrees in India.

The regulator specifically flagged institutions including Bukhara State Medical Institute, Samarkand State Medical University and Tashkent State Medical University, citing issues ranging from excess admissions to inadequate clinical training and inconsistencies in the language of instruction.

The warning follows inputs from the Indian Embassy in Tashkent, which reported that admissions at some of these institutions had exceeded approved intake capacities. 

Authorities also noted complaints of malpractice involving agents and intermediaries offering admissions outside India’s standardized entrance process.

Students in Kashmir, a region where a significant number of aspirants pursue medical education abroad, were specifically cautioned against relying on unverified agents promising “guaranteed” admissions. 

The commission advised candidates to avoid making payments without confirming an institution’s accreditation and compliance status.

The regulator said that enrolling in non-compliant institutions could have serious consequences, including disqualification from registration and medical practice in India.

“It has come to the notice of the commission that several Indian students continue to seek admission in private medical colleges abroad that do not comply with the prescribed regulations,” the advisory said, noting that such institutions often fall short in curriculum standards, training requirements and course duration.

The commission urged students to consult official sources, including its website and Indian diplomatic missions, for updated and verified information before making decisions.

The latest advisory builds on a series of warnings issued over the past two years, reflecting ongoing concerns about the quality and recognition of foreign medical degrees among Indian students.