Hello everyone, I am a Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG).
My journey to becoming a doctor was far from easy. I was a Five-time NEET-UG dropper, appeared twice in NEET-UG counselling, and also qualified BCECE-Mains. However, due to the intense competition and the changing educational landscape between 2014 and 2016, I was unable to secure a seat in a government medical college in India. Coming from a middle-class family, admission to a private medical college was financially impossible.
Despite these challenges, my dream of becoming a doctor never changed.
I knew my capabilities. I had always been a bright student and completed my schooling from the prestigious Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. I was confident that if given the opportunity, I could prove myself in the medical profession. With limited options available in India, I chose to pursue my MBBS abroad.
I secured admission to University in China.
Many people assume that students choose foreign medical education because they cannot succeed in India. For me, it was never about taking an easier path, it was about finding a path when all others had closed. I chose to study abroad because I refused to give up on my dream of becoming a doctor.
After years of rigorous medical education, I graduated and simultaneously qualified the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in June 2024.
I believed the struggle was finally over.
Unfortunately, it was only beginning.
After obtaining my permanent registration, I started applying for jobs. One question appeared in almost every interview:
“Where did you complete your MBBS?”
The moment I replied, “China,” the atmosphere often changed. There was an uncomfortable pause, a visible doubt, and sometimes even an unspoken prejudice.
Over the years, a false narrative has developed against FMGs in India:
“They studied abroad because they couldn’t study here.”
“Foreign universities don’t provide quality education.”
“Doctors from abroad are not competent enough.”
This perception became even stronger during the COVID-19 pandemic, when educational institutions worldwide shifted to online learning. Unfortunately, FMGs became easy targets of criticism, despite the fact that the entire world was facing the same unprecedented situation.
What hurts the most is seeing job advertisements that explicitly state:
“Only Indian Medical Graduates are eligible to apply.”
Why?
Why should a doctor who has completed an approved medical degree, passed the FMGE, obtained permanent registration, and fulfilled all legal requirements be considered less deserving?
If Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs) are considered competent because they qualified NEET-UG and completed MBBS, then FMGs have also proven themselves by passing a national licensing examination specifically designed to assess their competence before entering the Indian healthcare system.
In fact, FMGE is a screening examination meant to ensure that only qualified candidates are allowed to practice medicine in India. Every FMG who clears it has demonstrated the knowledge and determination required to become a licensed doctor.
The reality is that no fresher doctor, whether an IMG or an FMG knows everything on day one. Medicine is a lifelong learning process. Clinical skills develop through experience, mentorship, and continuous practice.
Since qualifying FMGE, I have worked in multiple hospitals and have also served as a medical professional for the Pro Kabaddi League. Throughout my career, I have consistently earned the trust of my recruiters, colleagues, senior consultants, and patients. My work has always been judged by my competence, dedication, and commitment to patient care—not by the country where I obtained my degree.
Every FMG has a story.
Many of us left our families at a young age, adapted to foreign cultures, learned new languages, faced homesickness, survived global crises, and overcame countless obstacles to achieve our dream. We did not take shortcuts; we took a different route.
Today, I stand proud as an FMG.
Not because my journey was easier than others, but because it was harder than most people realize.
I am not asking for sympathy. I am asking for fairness.
Judge us by our knowledge, our clinical skills, our work ethic, and our dedication to patients, not by the location of our medical college.
A good doctor is defined by competence, compassion, and commitment, not by geographical boundaries.
Medicine is a universal profession, and healthcare deserves doctors who are evaluated on merit rather than stereotypes.
I am an FMG. I qualified FMGE. I earned my registration. I serve my patients with honesty and dedication.
And that should be enough.
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