Indian students in China ineligible for medical exam if license not obtained: Govt issues advisory

The Embassy of India in Beijing on Monday informed that if any Indian student who joined a medical programme in China after November 2021, fails to obtain license to practice as a medical doctor in China, he/she will be rendered ineligible to appear for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE).

“The Embassy has apprised the Chinese authorities concerned and medical colleges with a request that they should ensure that all Indian students coming to China for a clinical medicine program are educated, trained and facilitated so that they can fulfill the above requirements of NMC. Any student who joins for clinical medicine program in China after November 2021 and fails to obtain license to practice as a medical doctor in China, will be rendered ineligible to appear for Foreign Medical Graduate Examination,” the Embassy said through a release.

The release also said that all foreign medical students must be “registered with the respective professional regulatory body or otherwise, competent to grant license to practice medicine in their respective jurisdiction of the



country in which the medical degree is awarded and at par with the license to practice medicine given to citizen of that country.”

The Embassy also addressed a query on whether Indian students can work in Chinese hospitals in a capacity such as "assistant doctor" after completing their medical education in China but fail to obtain a medical practitioner license in China so as to enable them to earn a living and pay back education loans.

"The Embassy has formally approached relevant Chinese authorities to confirm existence of such an option. The Embassy will share any information, when received from the Chinese side, in its social media handles," the release said.

According to official estimates, over 23,000 Indian students are currently enrolled in Chinese universities. A vast majority of them were studying medicine.

Meanwhile, after over two years of Covid visa restrictions, China recently started issuing visas to a select number of students to return. Over 350 students have returned to rejoin their colleges, news agency PTI reported.