Hundreds of foreign medical graduates gathered outside the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) on Friday to demand immediate placements of internships that have been repeatedly delayed by over five months. The protest was an indication of a growing frustration on the part of aspiring doctors who say long-drawn-out administrative delays are hindering their opportunities to start medical careers.
Protesters also reiterated their fight for equal internship stipends and said that they are legally entitled to receive the same financial benefits as other medical interns under existing guidelines given by the Supreme Court and the National Medical Commission (NMC).
The protest was organized by Dr Bibhu Anand, Chief Advisor of FAIMA, who represented the FMGs during their discussions with Delhi Medical Council officials. FAIMA says the major reason for the delay is the lack of financial approval for stipend disbursement.
Hundreds of FMGs united today under FAIMA's leadership at DMC against the prolonged delay in internship allotment.
DMC has assured an official update by Tuesday, with financial clearance expected next week.
FAIMA will continue to stand with every FMG until internship allotment… https://t.co/o2HHCwBKm1 pic.twitter.com/SPDzVHFK5g— FAIMA Doctors Association (@FAIMA_INDIA_) July 3, 2026
Dr Bibhu Anand raised concerns before DMC officials, saying that despite clear judicial and regulatory directions, internship allotments have not come to the fore for months. He said that the delay has put hundreds of prospective doctors in professional uncertainty and prevented them from undergoing an internship that is required for medical registration and practice in India.
Under current guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and the National Medical Commission, FMGs in Delhi are entitled to receive the same stipend as other medical interns during their internship. However, FAIMA alleges that authorities have continued to postpone internship allocations due to unresolved financial approvals.
According to an official statement from the association, this is not the first attempt by FMGs to resolve the issue. Representatives, including Dr Divya, Dr Aimesh, Dr Minakshi, and Dr Kushmit, have visited the Delhi Medical Council several times over the last couple of months trying to find a solution, but nothing is moving.
A delegation of FMGs had also met Delhi Health Minister Dr Pankaj Singh the day before the protest to discuss the long-drawn-out delay and the pending financial approval for internship allotments. The association also called on the government to act to ensure that qualified graduates are not forced to wait indefinitely due to administrative hurdles.
The protest led to discussions between DMC officials and FAIMA representatives. It is the Delhi Medical Council that provided an important assurance during the meeting, the association said. The official letter and email regarding the issue have been sent to Dr Sushma Jain, the current Registrar of the Delhi Medical Council, regarding the pending file, officials said.
After several hours of discussions, DMC officials promised that the financial approval for the internship allotments should be completed by next week, and that Friday is probably when a decision is likely to be made.
The assurance has been some comfort to the protesting graduates, but many remain cautious until formal approval is granted and internship seats are officially allocated. FAIMA will ensure it is monitoring the situation and take further action if the promised timeline is not achieved.
The issue has once again raised the challenges faced by Foreign Medical Graduates returning to India, who are being frustrated by licensing, internships, and administrative procedures that they need to meet in order to complete the internship for which they are eligible. The protesters want to see future batches not experience such uncertainty and that the allocation of internships is transparent and time-bound.
