Medical Profession Requires Practical Knowledge, Can't Be Substituted By Online Classes: AP High Court Rejects Plea By Foreign Medical Graduate

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has observed that the medical profession requires practical knowledge and clinical training, as a regular medical course is inclusive of skills training, dissections in laboratories to understand the human anatomy patient interaction, team based learning such as case studies and problem solving exercises, and the same cannot be substituted by online classes.The Court was dealing with a writ petition challenging the action of The AP Medical Council (Respondent 1) in not issuing permanent registration certificate to the petitioners who had graduated in MBBS from foreign universities and were mandated to undergo a Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) for a period of two/three years (a schedule of 12 months to be repeated).A Single Judge Bench of Justice Kiranmayee Mandava, while dismissing the petition, held,“As noted from the proceedings of the 1st respondent, the students were instructed to continue their internship at their allotted medical college and Hospital until further orders of A.P.Medical Council. In the light of the circulars of the Government of India on the issue, the stages of medical education designed to impart required practical training cannot be overlooked”BackgroundThe petitioners, who had pursued MBBS course in foreign countries, contended that the eligibility to the foreign university was on the basis of NEET qualification and after obtaining the study certificate from the respective foreign universities, the petitioners had appeared and got through Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) conducted by the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences. They had also obtained the Screening Test Pass certificate. After this, the petitioners attended the internship which, according to a circular dated 09.05.2023 issued by the National Medical Commission (Undergraduate Medical Examination Board), was of a maximum period of 2 years and a minimum period of 12 months. They were issued allotment orders permitting them to undergo a one year internship programme (apprenticeship) at the college mentioned under the allotment order, which they duly completed. Only after this, the petitioners submitted that they applied for the grant of permanent registration certificate, which Respondent 1 refused to grant on the pretext that certificates were under verification.The respondents contended that as per circulars issued by the National Medical Commission dated 09.05.2023 and 07.06.2024, FMGs who attended their classes online for any duration during their course were to undergo compulsory internship for two/three years, and the petitioners must necessarily have to undergo 2 years internship. Additionally, it was argued that Respondent 1 was bound by the instructions of the Government and owing to students obtaining certificates from the foreign universities fraudulently, the said circulars were issued.At the outset, the Court noted that owing to the fact that certificates produced by the students, certifying that the students had undergone offline classes, were found to be not genuine, Respondent 4 had come out with guidelines specifying that the FMGS should invariably undergo 2 to 3 years compulsory internship. Circular dated 07.06.2024 provided that FMGs who attended their classes online for any duration during their course completion were required to qualify the FMG Examination and subsequently undergo a Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) for a period of two/three years (a schedule of 12 months to be repeated).In consideration of this, the Court dismissed the argument of Petitioner No 13 who argued that— she had completed her course offline and her stay in India was for a short duration, therefore, she need not undergo two years compulsory internship.Holding that the stages of medical education which are designed to impart practical training cannot be overlooked, the Court dismissed the plea.Case Details:Case Number: WRIT PETITION NO: 229/2025Case Title: Chukka Divya Keerthana Reddy and Others v. The AP Medical Council and OthersDate: 28.04.2025Click Here To Read/Download Order

Medical Profession Requires Practical Knowledge, Can't Be Substituted By Online Classes: AP High Court Rejects Plea By Foreign Medical Graduate

Saahas Arora

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