National Medical Commission Clarifies Licence Rules for Georgia Medical Graduates

Students who finish their medical training in Georgia need a full licence to practise medicine locally to take the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination in India. The National Medical Commission issued this clarification after a candidate named Bhawna raised a grievance through the Prime Minister's portal about the validity of a six-year MBBS degree from Georgia.

Licensing Rules

Under Regulation 4(b) of the National Medical Commission Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations of 2021, returning students must hold a local practice permit equal to the rights given to local citizens of that country. Working merely as a junior doctor under supervision is not enough if local laws require extra postgraduate study before granting full practice rights. The Indian Embassy in Yerevan issued a warning in September 2022 noting that graduates in Georgia must pass a language test and complete residency or postgraduate work before getting a final licence.

Student Impact

Industry consultants report that between 30,000 and 40,000 Indian students enrolled in Georgian medical schools after the 2021 rules came out. Some local education agents have allegedly given wrong advice to students by claiming that junior doctor status is enough to sit for the Indian screening test.

Context

Regulatory bodies set strict licensing standards to ensure that all practitioners meet uniform clinical competency benchmarks before treating patients. Students choosing overseas education often face complex legal hurdles when home country rules change after their enrollment.