Studying MBBS abroad has become a popular choice for Indian students due to affordable tuition fees, global recognition, and quality education. Among the preferred destinations, Uzbekistan has recently gained attention for offering MBBS programs that follow international standards.
However, while Uzbekistan’s MBBS degree is recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India, students must clear the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) to practice in India.
The challenge is that the Uzbekistan MBBS curriculum does not fully align with FMGE requirements, and certain subjects are either missing, underrepresented, or taught with less depth. This creates gaps that Indian students need to bridge for success in FMGE.
This article explores in detail which FMGE subjects are missing in Uzbekistan MBBS syllabus, why these gaps exist, and how students can overcome them.
The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is a screening test conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), India.
Purpose: To evaluate the knowledge of Indian students who completed MBBS abroad.
Eligibility: Mandatory for foreign MBBS graduates to register with NMC and practice in India.
Pattern: 300 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), no negative marking.
Subjects Covered: Pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical subjects as per Indian MBBS syllabus.
Thus, for success in FMGE, students must have exposure to the complete Indian MBBS subject list.
The FMGE is based on the same subjects taught in Indian MBBS programs. These are:
Anatomy
Physiology
Biochemistry
Pathology
Pharmacology
Microbiology
Forensic Medicine & Toxicology (FMT)
Community Medicine
Medicine (General Medicine)
Pediatrics
Dermatology & Venereology
Psychiatry
General Surgery
Orthopedics
Ophthalmology
Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Radiology & Radiotherapy
Anesthesiology
These 19 subjects are the backbone of FMGE, and questions are distributed across them.
The MBBS program in Uzbekistan usually lasts 5 years + 1 year internship, making it a 6-year program.
The curriculum is designed according to European and CIS medical education standards.
Students study basic sciences in the first 2 years, followed by clinical rotations.
Major emphasis is on Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Gynecology.
Some subjects crucial for FMGE are not taught as separate subjects but are merged within broader courses.
This creates gaps between the Uzbekistan MBBS curriculum and the FMGE subject list.
Based on curriculum comparisons, the following subjects are either missing, integrated, or not given full weightage in Uzbekistan MBBS:
Often not taught as a standalone subject.
Only minor exposure during legal medicine classes.
FMGE has a dedicated section on FMT, making this a major gap.
Uzbekistan MBBS focuses more on clinical treatment, less on public health, epidemiology, and biostatistics.
Preventive medicine is merged with internal medicine but not taught in detail.
Indian FMGE asks many questions from Community Medicine, making this a weak area for students.
Covered briefly but not emphasized as in Indian MBBS.
Focus is on drug prescriptions rather than mechanisms, adverse effects, and interactions.
FMGE requires in-depth pharmacology knowledge.
Often integrated with infectious diseases rather than a full subject.
Laboratory techniques and immunology are not studied deeply.
Indian FMGE asks detailed microbiology questions (bacteriology, virology, mycology).
Clinical exposure to X-rays and imaging is given, but Radiology is not a core subject.
Limited teaching of imaging signs, which are frequently asked in FMGE.
Basic psychiatric concepts are taught during Medicine, but not in detail.
Disorders like schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety are not covered thoroughly.
Covered only briefly in clinical medicine.
Skin diseases and sexually transmitted infections are not emphasized.
Students get exposure during surgery postings but no structured teaching.
In FMGE, anesthesia and critical care questions appear regularly.
There are several reasons why Uzbekistan MBBS does not fully cover all FMGE subjects:
Different Medical Education System – Uzbekistan follows CIS/European standards, not Indian MBBS curriculum.
Focus on Major Clinical Disciplines – More emphasis on internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and gynecology.
Time Limitations – The MBBS program is shorter compared to India (5 years vs 5.5 years), leading to compressed teaching.
Local Healthcare Needs – Curriculum is designed to meet Uzbekistan’s health challenges, not India’s FMGE requirements.
Lower FMGE Pass Rates: Missing subjects make preparation harder.
Extra Coaching Required: Students need to rely on Indian FMGE coaching programs.
Stress During Internship: Instead of focusing only on practice, students must revise missing subjects.
Knowledge Gaps in India: Without FMT, PSM, and detailed Pharmacology, students may struggle in Indian medical practice.
Indian students can bridge these gaps with proper planning.
Study Indian MBBS textbooks for missing subjects.
Examples: Park (Community Medicine), Reddy (FMT), K.D. Tripathi (Pharmacology).
Join online classes by Indian faculties who specialize in FMGE training.
Helps cover FMT, Community Medicine, Pharmacology, Microbiology in detail.
Dedicate 2–3 hours daily to subjects not emphasized in Uzbekistan.
Prepare short notes and MCQ banks.
Many platforms offer FMGE preparation guidance.
Interaction with Indian doctors helps bridge knowledge gaps.
During postings, ask doctors to explain imaging, psychiatry, anesthesia cases.
Practical exposure can compensate for limited classroom teaching.
Start Early: Don’t wait till final year, begin FMGE prep from 2nd year.
Use MCQ Books: Practice FMGE MCQs regularly.
Create a Study Schedule: Balance MBBS classes with FMGE preparation.
Join Revision Batches in India: Many institutes offer crash courses.
Focus on Weak Subjects: Give extra time to FMT, PSM, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Radiology.
While Uzbekistan MBBS offers quality education in Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Gynecology, certain FMGE subjects are missing or underrepresented. These include Forensic Medicine, Community Medicine, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Radiology, Psychiatry, Dermatology, and Anesthesiology.
For Indian students, this creates a challenge, but with parallel FMGE preparation, online coaching, and Indian textbooks, the gaps can be effectively covered.
In short, an MBBS from Uzbekistan can still lead to FMGE success, provided students plan ahead, study strategically, and bridge missing subjects throughout their course.