In Brief
A foreign medical graduate from China completed nine full semesters of medical coursework including clinical training on-campus, but three clinical subjects in the final semester were conducted online due to COVID-19. The Medical Council denied her provisional registration needed to complete internship in India, citing mandatory regulations requiring the entire course be completed in-person at the same foreign institute. The Supreme Court held that clinical training cannot be adequately provided online and requires hands-on patient interaction. However, as a one-time measure to preserve national resources without compromising health standards, the Court directed the Commission to devise a scheme within two months allowing such students to complete clinical training in Indian medical colleges before being tested and provisionally registered for a 12-month internship.
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