In a landmark ruling, the Kerala High Court has declared that charging fees for internship completion certificates is illegal and affirmed that foreign medical graduates are entitled to stipends.
- Kerala High Court ruled that charging fees for internship certificates is illegal.
- Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) are entitled to stipends equivalent to Indian graduates.
- General Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram ordered to issue certificates without fees immediately.
The Kerala High Court has delivered a significant judgment safeguarding the rights of medical practitioners, observing that the demand for a fee to issue an internship completion certificate to a foreign medical graduate is entirely illegal. Presiding over the case, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas emphasized that the process of obtaining certification for professional training should not be monetized by state institutions.
The court specifically directed the General Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, to issue the completion certificate to the petitioner without levying any charges. Furthermore, the court ordered the hospital to forward the graduate's claim for a stipend to the competent authority for immediate processing.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this ruling addresses a systemic gap in how Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) are treated upon their return to India. For years, a disparity existed between the treatment of local graduates and those who studied abroad. By enforcing the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, the court is ensuring that merit and training take precedence over administrative fees, preventing the exploitation of young doctors during their Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship (CRMI).
"The judicial insistence on parity between foreign and domestic medical graduates is a critical step toward standardizing medical education and professional entry in India."
The petitioner argued that according to the NMC guidelines, every doctor undergoing CRMI is entitled to a stipend fixed by the concerned authority. The court found that the commission's regulations explicitly prohibit the levy of internship fees, rendering such demands unlawful.
Moreover, the court highlighted that the stipend and other facilities provided to foreign medical graduates must be equivalent to those extended to Indian medical graduates training at government medical colleges. This ensures a level playing field for all healthcare professionals entering the workforce.
Comparison of Treatment: FMGs vs. IMGs
| Feature | Indian Medical Graduates (IMG) | Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) |
|---|---|---|
| Internship Fee | Generally Not Applicable | Previously Charged (Now Ruled Illegal) |
| Stipend Eligibility | Entitled | Entitled (As per HC Ruling) |
| Facility Access | Standard Govt. Facilities | Must be Equivalent to IMGs |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can hospitals still charge a fee for internship certificates?
No, the Kerala High Court has ruled such fees illegal based on National Medical Commission guidelines.
Q2: Are foreign medical graduates entitled to the same stipend as Indian graduates?
Yes, the court affirmed that stipends and facilities for FMGs should be equivalent to those provided to Indian medical graduates in government colleges.
