Srinagar, Feb 10 (KNO): The All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) has sought the urgent intervention of Health and Medical Education Minister, Sakina Itoo, against what it termed as an “arbitrary and retrospective” imposition of a two-year internship on Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) by the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Council (JKMC).
The association has also raised strong concern over the continued delay in stipend hikes for medical interns.
In a formal representation addressed to the Health Minister, a copy of which lies with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the AIMSA stated that the affected FMGs had completed their Final Year MBBS entirely in offline mode, fulfilling all prescribed clinical training requirements as per existing norms.
The association emphasized that there is no directive from the National Medical Commission (NMC) mandating the inclusion of pre-final year duration while determining internship eligibility.
“Despite the absence of any such guideline from the NMC, the JKMC has unilaterally and retrospectively applied a new interpretation, forcing FMGs to undergo a two-year internship,” AIMSA said in its letter. It added that seniors and even batchmates who followed the same academic structure were granted the standard one-year internship, making the current move discriminatory in nature.
Highlighting the hardships faced by students, the association revealed that several FMGs have been declared deficient by just a few days and are now being compelled to complete an additional year of internship — in many cases without any stipend.
“This decision has pushed young medical graduates into severe academic uncertainty, financial distress, and psychological trauma. Declaring students deficient by a few days and punishing them with an extra year of unpaid internship is not only unjust but inhumane,” the representation read.
AIMSA termed the JKMC’s action as being against the principles of natural justice, fairness, and parity, noting that medical councils in other states continue to follow the one-year internship norm for FMGs in similar circumstances.
The association placed four key demands before the Health Minister including the Final Year MBBS duration be considered sufficient for determining internship eligibility; FMGs be granted a one-year internship in parity with previous batches and other states; long-pending stipend hikes for interns be released without further delay; and any new criteria or policy changes be implemented prospectively and uniformly, rather than retrospectively.
Appealing for immediate relief, AIMSA urged Itoo to step in to correct what it described as a serious administrative injustice.
“We sincerely request your kind and prompt intervention in the interest of justice, equity, and the future of young medical professionals who are ready to serve the healthcare system,” the association stated—(KNO)