India’s National Medical Commission-NMC has been awarded the
coveted World Federation for Medical Education or WFME recognition status for a
tenure of 10 years, stated the Union Health Ministry.
WFME recognition will enable Indian medical graduates to pursue
postgraduate training and practice in other countries that require WFME
recognition, such as United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Under this accreditation, all the 706 existing medical colleges
become WFME accredited and the new medical colleges that will be set up in the
coming 10 years will automatically become WFME accredited.
This will also make India an attractive destination for international
students due to our globally recognized standards.
Apart from this, the NMC will get the privilege of enhancing the
quality and standards of medical education in India by aligning them with the
global best practices and benchmarks.
The release added that recognition will increase the international
recognition and reputation of Indian medical schools and professionals,
facilitate academic collaborations and exchanges and promote continuous
improvement and innovation in medical education and foster a culture of quality
assurance among medical educators and institutions.
The WFME is a global organization dedicated to enhancing the
quality of medical education worldwide.
WFME’s mission is to strive for better health care for all mankind;
WFME’s primary objective is to enhance the quality of medical education
worldwide, with the promotion of the highest scientific and ethical standards
in medical education.
The Education Commission on Foreign Medical Education (ECFMG) is
the primary body in United States that oversees the policies and regulations
around licensing International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
In order to take the USMLEs, and to apply for residency all IMGs
must be certified by ECFMG.
The ECFMG is the primary body in the United States that oversees
the policies and regulations around licensing IMGs.
In order to take the USMLEs, and to apply for residency all IMGs
must be certified by ECFMG. This certification typically takes place after the
completion of the 2nd year of a medical program, and before taking the USMLE
Step 1 examination.
In 2010, the ECFMG announced a new requirement that will become
effective in the year 2024 (was set for 2023 but was moved to 2024 due to
COVID).
The new rule states that “starting in 2024, individuals
applying for ECFMG Certification must be a student or graduate of a medical
school that is appropriately accredited.
More specifically, the school must be accredited by an accrediting
agency that is officially recognised by the WFME.”
The WFME recognition process entails a fee of ₹ 4,98,5142 ($60,000)
per medical college, which covers the expenses of the site visit team and their
travel and accommodation.
This means that the total cost for the 706 medical colleges in
India to apply for WFME recognition would have been approximately ₹ 351.9 crore
($4,23,60,000).
It is noteworthy that NMC has taken recognition of WFME which shall
be applicable to all medical colleges under its umbrella.
PTI
