MCI recognises US Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree, holds it equivalent to MBBS

New Delhi : Bringing relief to the candidates who have pursued a qualification of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the USA and wish to practice in India, the Medical Council of India has held that these qualifications are equivalent to that of MBBS of Indian Medical Schools.

The decision was made in one of the meeting of the MCI Board of governors held recently when the BOG delved upon a representation of one such candidate pursuant to the orders of the Hon'ble Delhi High court.

The BOG examining the case decided

The Board of Governors after perusing the representation and observations of Senior Advisor, Board of Governors decided that the qualification of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine was equivalent to that of MBBS of Indian Medical Schools.

In the particular case in hand, BOG noted that the candidate was working as a Consultant Obs and Gynae and directed that she should submit the course curriculum for qualification of Obst & Gyae along with other documents to demonstrate the equivalence her degree to that of Obst. & Gyane qualification obtained by MD Physician in USA.

as the applicant has stated that she was working as Senior Consultant in Obst. & Gynae, hence she may be asked to submit the course curriculum for qualification of Obst & Gyae. acquired by her along with necessary documents to demonstrate the equivalence of Obst. & Gynae. speciality obtained from the concerned Osteopathic Board with that of Obst. & Gyane qualification obtained by MD Physician in USA. Thereafter, her eligibility for grant of registration on the basis of possessing both undergraduate and postgraduate qualification in modern medicine from USA will be considered.

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) is one of the two undergraduate courses offered in the US in the field of medicine, the other one being Doctor of Medicine (MD). In the US, the D.O. degree is legally and professionally equivalent to the degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.).

The issue of the recognition of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a matter that has cropped up again and again before the MCI. While MCI recognises MD degree done in the USA, the same was not the case with the DO degree, leading to series of court cases by candidates of these degrees