Kerala High Court Quashes State’s Mandatory Internship Fees for Foreign Medical Graduates

The Kerala High Court has quashed the State Government’s order imposing mandatory ₹5,000 internship fees on Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) for their compulsory medical internship in government hospitals.

The Court ruled that only the National Medical Commission (NMC) has the authority to regulate medical internships, and its guidelines prohibit charging any internship fee from FMGs and mandate stipends for all medical interns. 

The Court found the State’s order illegal and discriminatory, emphasizing that FMGs, once registered, must be treated equally with Indian Medical Graduates for internships.