Meeting of Uzbekistan’s Minister of Higher Education, Kongratbay Sharipov, with Indian students at Tashkent Medical University. Photo: gov.uz
India’s National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued an official warning advising students against enrolling at the Chirchik branch of Tashkent State Medical University (TSMU), The New Indian Express reported.
The list also includes three universities in Belize. According to the NMC, these institutions do not meet India’s medical education standards. Key concerns include failure to comply with academic and clinical requirements, inadequate infrastructure, inflated tuition fees, and misleading claims about the quality and conditions of study. The commission also noted that students faced difficulties reclaiming tuition fees after discontinuing their studies.
The NMC reminded prospective Indian medical students abroad that they must adhere to Foreign Medical Graduate Licensing (FMGL) requirements. These include criteria regarding program duration, curriculum, language of instruction, clinical training, and more. Violations can result in denial of registration to practice medicine in India.
The advisory is based on assessments conducted with the involvement of India’s Embassy in Mexico and the Eurasian Division of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
In response to the accusations, TSMU’s Chirchik branch issued an official statement on July 23, asserting that:
▪️ the educational process complies with both national medical standards and those of the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), and that these standards are strictly followed;
▪️ the Chirchik branch is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools;
▪️ the university is equipped with modern infrastructure, including academic buildings, laboratories, simulation centers, digital education resources, and dormitories;
▪️ transparency in education, student rights protections, and academic freedom are ensured.
The university’s administration expressed readiness for open dialogue with the NMC and said it took the concerns seriously, while also stressing that the NMC’s claims were made without an on-site inspection and lacked verification.
“We categorically reject the attempt to undermine the university’s reputation through the above unfounded reports. We confidently inform the international community—particularly Indian students and their parents—that the Chirchik branch of Tashkent State Medical University consistently provides high-quality medical education in line with international standards,” the press service stated.
In April 2025, an Indian student at TSMU published a Reddit post criticizing the university, citing poor teaching quality, limited English proficiency among instructors, and unsanitary dormitory conditions. A month later, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Higher Education, Kongratbay Sharipov, visited the university and met with international students, including Indian nationals. According to the ministry, students expressed satisfaction with the university’s modern facilities, the quality of education, communication with faculty, and living conditions.
