MBBS in Uzbekistan? The Government Has Repeated Its Warning. What to Check Before You Pay
Published 05/11/2026
In short: If your family is looking at MBBS in Uzbekistan for 2027, the Government of India has just asked you to slow down and read the official advisories first. On 3 November the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said students must get medical education that meets National Medical Commission (NMC) rules, and must not be exploited by agents in either country. Nothing has been banned, but a degree that breaks NMC rules may not let your child practise in India.
What happened
At its regular press briefing on 3 November 2026, the MEA spokesperson was asked about Indian students in Uzbekistan. He said the government keeps talking to the Uzbek side, and pointed families to two sets of warnings: those from the Embassy of India in Tashkent and from the NMC. Students, he said, should not be "exploited by unscrupulous elements both here in India as also in Uzbekistan."
The NMC warning he referred to is an alert note dated 1 April 2026. It names four places where it has concerns:
- Bukhara State Medical Institute
- Samarkand State Medical University
- Tashkent State Medical University
- TIT Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, which the NMC describes as an offshore campus of Tashkent State Medical University's Termez branch
Based on reports from the Embassy, the NMC lists three problems: students admitted beyond the number of seats a college has, students not getting hands-on training because teaching is not in English, and complaints that the Termez branch and its Bangalore partner are breaking NMC rules. The alert does not say these colleges are banned. It says students should take "extreme caution" and check every college against the rules below.
The Embassy says about 16,000 Indian students are studying in Uzbekistan now, so this affects a lot of families.
The rules a foreign MBBS must meet
India's rules for foreign medical degrees are called the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021. The NMC alert repeats the main ones:
For the degree to count in India
- 1At least 54 months at one institution
- 212-month internship at the same university
- 3Clinical training not split across places or countries
- 4Taught in English
- 5Licence to practise in that country
The course must also cover the subjects the NMC lists. The NMC warns that a gap in course length, language of teaching, syllabus, clinical training or internship can mean your child cannot register as a doctor in India after graduating.
For students
- NEET comes first. The NMC is clear that no college can promise you a seat outside the proper process, and that includes qualifying NEET. Anyone saying otherwise is a red flag.
- Ask how long the course is, in writing. The Embassy has noted that Uzbekistan's own General Medicine course is six years. Make sure the course you are offered, plus the internship, fits the NMC rules above.
- Find out how much is really taught in English. Classes may be in English while patients and hospital staff speak Uzbek or Russian. Talk to Indian seniors at that college about their clinical training.
- Come on a student visa. The Embassy has seen some students arrive on e-visas. A student visa is the right one.
- Know who to call. If you are already there and in trouble, the Embassy's consular officer can be reached at cons.tashkent@mea.gov.in.
For parents
This is where most of the money and most of the risk sits.
Who checks what
- Qualify NEET first: no seat skips it
- Check the course length and internship
- Ask seniors how much is taught in English
- Pay by bank transfer only, keep receipts
- Get a contract in English or bilingual
- Use only agents registered in India
- Check before you pay anything. The NMC asks families to confirm a college is recognised and follows the rules before any fee goes out.
- Deal with the university directly if you can. The Embassy suggests avoiding agents. If you do use one, it says to use only agents whose business is registered in India, and to ask other families about them first.
- Never pay cash. Pay by bank transfer and keep receipts that show the university's and the agent's names. You will need them for education loans and for any dispute later.
- Read the contract. It should be in English, or in English plus Uzbek or Russian. Do not sign a paper you cannot read. Tuition, hostel, other university charges and agent fees should all be written into the admission letter and contract, along with any clause that lets charges go up.
- Plan for living costs and health. The Embassy advises medical insurance on arrival and warm clothing for harsh winters. Check the hostel and food before you commit.
- Report anything suspicious. The NMC asks families to report anyone offering illegal or misleading medical admissions.
Key dates
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Dec 2022 | Embassy advisory: Uzbekistan's General Medicine course is six years |
| 1 Jun 2025 | Embassy advisory: use only agents registered in India; come on a student visa |
| 1 Apr 2026 | NMC alert naming four Uzbek-linked institutions |
| 3 Nov 2026 | MEA asks families to follow the Embassy and NMC advisories |
Sources
- Ministry of External Affairs, Transcript of bi-weekly media briefing, 3 November 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- National Medical Commission, Advisory and alert note on undergraduate medical courses in Uzbekistan, 1 April 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Embassy of India, Tashkent, Information for students seeking admission in Uzbek medical institutions. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Embassy of India, Tashkent, Advisory for Indian students (1 June 2025) and advisory on the medicine course in Uzbekistan (December 2022). Checked 5 Nov 2026.
If you are weighing MBBS abroad against options at home and want a calm second opinion, more on easyapply.in when useful.
Dates can change. Confirm on the official website before you pay or apply.