In July 2025 the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued an “Alert Note” for Indian students who want to study an undergraduate medical course at a foreign institute or university. It names four institutes and strictly advises students not to take admission in them. The alert was issued by NMC’s Under Graduate Medical Education Board (No. U-15021/1/2024-UGMEB) with the approval of the Secretary, NMC.
If you are planning MBBS abroad, or your child is already studying abroad, this alert matters. Below we explain what it says, why NMC issued it and what it means for your decision.
The four institutes named by NMC
NMC strictly advises students to avoid seeking admission in these institutes:
- Central American Health and Sciences University, Belize
- Columbus Central University, Belize
- Washington University of Health and Sciences, Belize
- Chirchik Branch of Tashkent State Medical University, Uzbekistan
Note that the fourth name is a branch campus. NMC names the Chirchik Branch specifically. When you check any college, always look at the exact campus or branch you will study at, not just the main university’s name.
Background: NMC’s earlier warnings
This alert builds on two earlier public notices from NMC, dated 08-08-2023 and 22-11-2024. In those notices NMC advised Indian students who want a medical qualification from a foreign institution, and who later want to register to practise in India, to follow the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021 strictly. Those regulations were notified on 18-11-2021.
NMC warned students that any deviation in the following five areas may result in disqualification from getting registration in India:
- duration of the course
- medium of instruction
- syllabus and curriculum
- clinical training
- internship or clerkship arrangements
In simple terms, the FMGL Regulations require a course of at least 54 months, an internship of at least 12 months in the same foreign institution, teaching in English, the subjects listed in the regulations, and eligibility for a licence to practise in that country. A gap in any one of these can be a problem when the student returns to India.
Why NMC issued this alert
NMC says that despite its earlier advisories, Indian students continue to take admission in foreign medical institutions that do not meet the standards set by the FMGL Regulations, 2021. It then refers to communications from the Indian Embassy in Mexico and the Eurasia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs. These raised serious concerns about the institutions, including:
- not complying with Indian medical education standards;
- inadequate or non-existent university campus infrastructure;
- poor quality of teaching and clinical training facilities;
- instances of harassment of Indian students;
- excessive fees being charged; and
- fees not being refunded when a student withdraws from the course.
These are not small issues. A missing campus or hospital means students may not get the clinical training the FMGL Regulations require, and fee and refund problems can leave a family with heavy losses.
What NMC says will happen if students ignore the alert
NMC states that failing to follow this advisory may result in ineligibility for medical registration in India. It also says that students governed by the FMGL Regulations, 2021 who study at such institutes may face disqualification from registration in India because of non-compliance with those regulations.
What NMC asks students and parents to do
- Before admission: read NMC’s Alert/Advisory dated 19-05-2025 on the NMC website. NMC says it contains critical information about recognised institutions, eligibility criteria and other important guidelines.
- If already studying abroad: check now whether your university meets the FMGL Regulations, 2021. NMC explains that these regulations are applied at the time of screening and registration, so problems are found when you return, not when you join.
- Stay updated: follow NMC updates on its official website.
- Ask the Embassy: consult the Indian Embassy in the country concerned for updates on recognition or blacklisting of institutions, and take corrective steps immediately if needed.
A practical checklist before you choose a college abroad
Using the points in this alert, here are the questions to ask about any foreign medical college before you pay:
- Is the course at least 54 months long, followed by a 12-month internship in the same institution?
- Is all teaching, theory and clinical, in English?
- Does the syllabus cover the subjects NMC requires?
- Where exactly does the clinical training happen, and is there a working hospital?
- Will the graduate be eligible for a licence to practise in that country, on the same terms as local students?
- Is the exact campus or branch you are joining the same one these answers apply to?
- What are the full fees, and what is the written refund policy if the student withdraws?
- Has NMC or the Indian Embassy issued any alert about this institute?
Ask for written proof of each answer. A brochure or a verbal promise is not proof.
Key dates mentioned in this alert
- 18-11-2021: NMC notifies the FMGL Regulations, 2021.
- 08-08-2023: NMC public notice reminding students to follow the FMGL Regulations.
- 22-11-2024: second NMC public notice on the same subject.
- 19-05-2025: NMC Alert/Advisory on recognised institutions and eligibility, which this alert asks students to read.
- July 2025: this Alert Note naming four institutes.
Common questions
My child is already enrolled at one of these institutes. What now? NMC’s advice is to evaluate immediately whether the university meets the FMGL Regulations, 2021, stay in touch with NMC updates and consult the Indian Embassy in that country, and take corrective measures promptly.
Is every college in Belize or Uzbekistan covered by this alert? No. The alert names four specific institutes. It does not say anything about other institutes in those countries. Every college still has to be checked against the FMGL Regulations on its own.
Does this alert replace the FMGL Regulations? No. It reminds students of those regulations and warns about specific institutes. The regulations themselves still decide eligibility for registration in India.
How we use this at National Vidya Foundation
We check every college we suggest against the FMGL 2021 points before a family pays anything, and we share the documents behind each point. If you are unsure about a college, or about one your child already attends, book a free Clarity Call and we will go through it with you.
The full alert from NMC is in the PDF below.