NMC Warns MBBS Students Against 4 Foreign Medical Colleges

• NMC flags 4 foreign medical institutions for poor standards.
• Students risk disqualification from Indian registration under FMGL 2021.
• The advisory urges checking the NMC website and embassy alerts before applying.

The Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has recently issued a warning to Indian medical students regarding admission to undergraduate medical courses in certain institutions in Belize and Uzbekistan.

The Apex medical commission has identified four medical institutions: Central American Health and Sciences University in Belize, Columbus Central University in Belize, Washington University of Health and Sciences in Belize, and the Chirchik Branch of Tashkent State Medical University in Uzbekistan.

This follows the Indian Embassy in Mexico and the Eurasia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs raising significant concerns about these medical institutions for not meeting Indian medical education standards, having insufficient or absent university campus infrastructure, low quality of education and clinical training facilities, harassment towards Indian students, inflated fees, and refusal to refund fees upon course withdrawal.

Medical Dialogues has reported on the NMC's advisories warning students against traveling abroad to follow their aspirations of becoming doctors. The Commission has repeatedly cautioned students that the standard of medical education in various foreign institutions does not conform to NMC criteria.

In the latest notification, NMC mentioned the Commission's announcements dated 8th August 2023 and 22nd November 2024, which advised Indian students aiming to acquire medical degrees from overseas institutions and later wanting to register for allopathy practice in India to adhere closely to the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021, issued on 18.11.2021.

NMC had explicitly warned the students that any changes concerning the course duration, language of instruction, syllabus and curriculum, clinical training, and internship or clerkship arrangements could lead to the students being disqualified from registering in India.

"Despite these advisories, it has been observed that Indian students continue to seek admission to foreign medical institutions which do not meet the required standards prescribed under FMGL Regulations, 2021," noted the Commission.

In line with the messages obtained from the Indian Embassy in Mexico, the Eurasia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, and the alerts released by the Embassies, the Commission recommended that students refrain from pursuing admission to particular medical institutes in Belize and one in Uzbekistan.

Also Read: NMC Issues New MBBS Admission Guidelines for PwBD Candidates

"Failure to follow this advisory may result in ineligibility for medical registration in India. Further, it is also advised that before seeking admission to any foreign medical institute or university, the prospective students and their parents are strongly advised to carefully read the Alert/Advisory uploaded on the National Medical Commission (NMC) website dated 19th May 2025. The advisory contains critical information regarding recognized institutions, eligibility criteria, and other important guidelines," warned the Commission.

"All those students who are governed by FMGL Regulation, 2021 and undergo their studies in such institutes/universities, are advised that they may face disqualification from registration in India, due to non-compliance with the FMGL Regulations, 2021. The students need to consider and immediately evaluate if their current university meets the FMGL Regulations, 2021. Stay in touch with NMC updates in the dedicated website, consult the Indian Embassy of the concerned country for updates on recognition or blacklisting of institutions, and immediately take corrective measures since FMGL Regulations are applied at the time of screening/registration," it further mentioned.