TN: Overseas MBBS graduates demand timely issuance of temporary practice certificates

chennai: overseas medical graduates staged a protest in chennai on sunday, condemning the inordinate delay in the issuance of temporary qualification certificates required to begin their medical practice in the state.the demonstration was organised by the doctors' association for social equality and the tamil nadu medical students' association (overseas unit) near rajaratnam stadium in chennai.speaking at the protest, vasanth philips abhishek, executive member of the overseas unit, said that over 1,400 students return to tamil nadu annually after completing their mbbs degrees abroad. once they qualify through the foreign medical graduate examination (fmge), they are entitled to receive a temporary qualification certificate from the tamil nadu medical council.“this certificate is essential for obtaining a no objection certificate from the mgr medical university and to begin the mandatory one-year internship at recognised hospitals. only after this can they register as permanent doctors,” he said.he alleged that despite fulfilling all the requirements, students have been forced to wait over five months for the certificate, with reports emerging that it can only be obtained through unofficial monetary payments.“we are protesting to demand transparency and timely issuance of the certificates, without any corruption,” abhishek added.the protestors urged the state health authorities to intervene and expedite the process to prevent further setbacks in their medical careers.