The National Medical Commission (NMC) has warned against the online medical courses offered by several Chinese universities. Students who wish to take medical or other courses from foreign universities are advised to exercise due diligence.
NMC has issued a notice, signed by Dr. Sandhya Bhullar, secretary, in which NMC explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has noted that some universities from the People’s Republic of China are now issuing notices for admission to MBBS programs for the current and future academic sessions . However, given the travel restrictions imposed due to Covid-19, these Chinese universities claim to offer online medical courses.
“In this context, any prospective student should be aware that in the wake of COVID-19, the government of the People’s Republic of China has imposed strict travel restrictions and has suspended all visas since November 2020,” the message read. “A large number of international students, including Indian students, have been unable to return to China to continue their studies due to these restrictions.”
NMC has now clarified that the Commission does not recognize or endorse any medical course that is only taught online. “Under existing rules, the National Medical Commission does not recognize or approve medical courses done through online mode only. In view of the above, students are advised to exercise due care in choosing where to pursue medical training,” the Commission said in the communication.
The Commission has further advised students to consult the regulations for Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) before applying for such course, or even when planning to apply for admission from institutions in China or other foreign institutions.
