Medical Council of India Screening Test

{{Short description|Doctors' qualifying examination}}

The Medical Council of India Screening Test, also known as the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), is a licensure examination conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) in India.{{cite news|title=NBE to conduct screening test for medical graduates|url=http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/20020331/hospinews11.shtml|accessdate=24 July 2010|newspaper=Indian Express|date=31 March 2002|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102234354/http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/20020331/hospinews11.shtml|archivedate=2 January 2011}} The test is one of the mandatory requirements for an Indian citizen who has a medical degree from a college outside India to practice medicine in the country.{{cite news|title=No foreign degrees, says MCI|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/No-foreign-degrees-says-MCI/articleshow/2234403.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811090707/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-07-26/bangalore/27991787_1_foreign-universities-screening-test-indian-students|url-status=live|archive-date=11 August 2011|access-date=24 July 2010|newspaper=The Times of India|date=26 July 2007}} (teaching hospital). The screening test was introduced in 2002 as a qualifying examination for Indian students obtaining their medical degrees from countries other than India, such as countries belonging to the former Soviet Union,{{cite news|title= MCI's response on screening test sought |url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/25/stories/2004022501831300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040622232638/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/25/stories/2004022501831300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 June 2004|accessdate=24 July 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|date=25 February 2004|location=Chennai, India}} Eastern European countries, China, Nepal, Philippines, and Caribbean countries. Indian doctors holding basic medical degrees from the above countries have to take the MCI screening test. The Medical School should have been listed in the WHO international directory of Medical Schools (Now The World Directory of Medical Schools). Candidates who qualify the Screening Test may apply to the National Medical Commission of India or to any Indian State Medical Council for provisional registration or permanent registration.{{cite web

|url= https://www.nmc.org.in/information-desk/for-students-to-study-in-abroad

|title=HomeInformation For Students To Study Abroad

|publisher=National Medical Commission

|access-date=7 May 2021}}

The legality of the test was challenged in the Indian courts{{cite news|title=Have foreign degree? Clear screening test first|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Have-foreign-degree-Clear-screening-test-first/articleshow/924520.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811090717/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-11-16/delhi/27165233_1_screening-test-foreign-degree-medical-council|url-status=live|archive-date=11 August 2011|access-date=24 July 2010|date=16 November 2004|first1=Rakesh|newspaper=The Times of India|last1=Bhatnagar}} and was upheld by the Supreme Court of India in 2009.{{cite news|title=Foreign degree won't do to be a doc in India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Foreign-degree-wont-do-to-be-a-doc-in-India/articleshow/5039453.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811090713/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-22/india/28067669_1_medical-council-medical-qualifications-screening-test-regulations |url-status=live |archive-date=11 August 2011 |access-date=24 July 2010 |date=22 September 2009 |first1=Dhananjay |newspaper=The Times of India|last1=Mahapatra}} This test has generated controversy with accusations that it is unfair and lacks transparency—for example, not allowing examinees to retain their question paper after examination, or not showing the exact marks or answer sheet upon appeal for failure. An appeal petition filed under RTI India to reveal the marks of an appealing student was not granted.{{cite news|title=The Central Information Commission, Government of India|url=http://cic.gov.in/CIC-Orders/AD-27112008-06.pdf|access-date=2010-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721160102/http://cic.gov.in/CIC-Orders/AD-27112008-06.pdf|archive-date=2011-07-21|url-status=dead}}

This examination is held twice in year in June and December on the third Monday and Tuesday of the month.

The National Medical Commission (which replaced the Medical Council of India in 2020) released draft regulations in 2021 on foreign medical graduates (FMGs) that amends the requirement for the Screening Test. Starting in 2022, overseas graduates will be required to qualify the new National Exit Test (NExT) in place of the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam (FMGE). Candidates intending to practice in India will have to clear NExT, within two years of completing their medical studies abroad. The draft regulation is expected to become official when published in the next gazette.{{cite web

|title= Evaluating foreign medical graduates based on clinical questions is unfair

|url= https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/careers/evaluating-foreign-medical-graduates-based-on-clinical-questions-is-unfair/ar-BB1gsu5T?

|website= msn.com

|publisher= MSN

|access-date=7 May 2021}}{{cite web

|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/evaluating-foreign-medical-graduates-based-on-clinical-questions-is-unfair/articleshow/82452770.cms

|title= Evaluating Foreign Medical Graduates based on Clinical Questions is Unfair

|website=timesofindia.com

|date=7 May 2021

|access-date=7 May 2021}}