In a groundbreaking development in the realm of medical practices in India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has been being awarded the coveted World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) Recognition Status for a tenure of 10 years, according to a press release from the Union Health Ministry.
This major accreditation will bring all the 706 existing medical colleges under the ambit of WFME certification and the new medical colleges that will be set up in the coming 10 years also will automatically become WFME accredited.
About the WFME recognition
The prestigeous WFME recognition will facilitate the Indian medical graduates to pursue postgraduate training and practice in other countries that require WFME recognition, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the release added.
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More exposure to the globally recognized standards practised across the globe in the field of medical science is expected to transform India into a more attractive destination for international students.
The offiicial validation from WFME will also provide NMC with the great privilege of augmenting the quality and standards of medical education in India by aligning them with the global best practices and benchmarks.
According to the official release by the Union Health Ministry, this accreditation will increase the international recognition and reputation of Indian medical schools and professionals, facilitate academic collaborations and exchanges and promote continuous improvement and innovation in medical education and foster a culture of quality assurance among medical educators and institutions.
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The WFME recognition process entails a fee of ₹ 4,98,5142 ($60,000) per medical college, which covers the expenses of the site visit team and their travel and accommodation.
This means that the total cost for the 706 medical colleges in India to apply for WFME recognition would have been approximately ₹ 351.9 crore ($4,23,60,000).
It is noteworthy that NMC has taken recognition of WFME which shall be applicable to all medical colleges under its umbrella.
About World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)
The World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) is a global organization bestowed with the responsibility of enhancing the quality of medical education across the globe.
WFME's mission is to strive for better health care for all mankind.
WFME's primarily emphasizes on enhancing the quality of medical education worldwide through the means of promoting the highest scientific and ethical standards in medical education, according to the Health Ministry press release.
About Education Commission on Foreign Medical Education (ECFMG)
The official release by the Union Health Ministry also mentioned about the Education Commission on Foreign Medical Education (ECFMG) which is the primary body in the United States that takes care of the policies and regulations around licensing International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
In order to take the USMLEs, and to apply for residency all IMGs must be certified by ECFMG.
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This certification typically takes place after the completion of the 2nd year of a medical program, and before taking the USMLE Step 1 examination.
In 2010, the ECFMG announced a new requirement that will become effective in the year 2024 (was set for 2023 but was moved to 2024 due to COVID).
The new rule states that "starting in 2024, individuals applying for ECFMG Certification must be a student or graduate of a medical school that is appropriately accredited. More specifically, the school must be accredited by an accrediting agency that is officially recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)."
