As an increasing number of Indian students look abroad for medical education due to limited seats and stiff competition at home, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a caution against enrolling in substandard foreign institutions, particularly in Uzbekistan. It also warned that students who do not qualify the mandatory NEET examination will be deemed ineligible to practise in India, rendering their degrees invalid.
The advisory comes in the wake of concerns flagged by the Embassy of India in Tashkent over serious irregularities in several Uzbek medical universities. Reports indicate that some institutions are admitting students far beyond their approved capacity, primarily for financial gain.
Despite assurances of English-medium instruction, classes are often conducted in local languages, creating difficulties for Indian students—especially during clinical training, where effective communication with patients becomes a challenge.
With Class 12 results expected soon and the admission cycle approaching, the NMC has urged parents and students to remain cautious of misleading advertisements by agents and to verify the credentials of foreign universities through official channels.
Eligibility for Practice in India
Under the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, students must complete a minimum of 54 months of study along with a 12-month internship at the same institution. The entire course must be taught in English.
Failure to meet these requirements will lead to disqualification from medical registration in India.
Institutes Under Watch in Uzbekistan
- Bukhara State Medical Institute (BSMI)
- Samarkand State Medical University (SSMU)
- Tashkent State Medical University (TSMU)
- TIT Institute of Medical Sciences (TSMU offshore campus)