IAS Officer Dr Raghav Langer Represents India at Global Medical Regulation Summit in US as Part of NMC Delegation
In a significant moment for India’s growing presence in global medical governance, senior IAS officer Dr Raghav Langer represented the country at the 114th Annual Meeting of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) held in Baltimore, United States, from April 30 to May 2, 2026.
Dr Langer, who currently serves as Secretary at the National Medical Commission (NMC) at the Joint Secretary level, attended the prestigious international gathering as part of the official Indian delegation led by the NMC. He was accompanied by Dr M.K. Ramesh, President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB), one of the key autonomous boards under the National Medical Commission.
The annual conference, organised by the Federation of State Medical Boards, carried the theme “Building Trust, Advancing Regulation” and brought together medical regulators, policymakers, healthcare leaders, licensing authorities, and academic experts from across the United States and several other countries.
The summit focused on critical global healthcare issues including medical licensing systems, physician accountability, patient safety, ethics in healthcare, professional regulation, technological advancements, and the increasing role of artificial intelligence in medicine and medical education.
First-Ever Special Invitation to India’s National Medical Commission
The 2026 meeting marked an important milestone for India’s healthcare regulatory ecosystem, as this was the first occasion on which the National Medical Commission was invited as a special participant at the FSMB Annual Meeting.
The invitation is being viewed as a recognition of India’s expanding influence in global medical education and regulatory reforms. The NMC today supervises one of the world’s largest medical education systems, comprising more than 818 medical colleges and thousands of training institutions across the country.
During the summit, the Indian delegation held detailed interactions with senior leadership of the Federation of State Medical Boards, including:
Dr George M. Abraham, Chair of FSMB
Dr Humayun J. Chaudhry, President and Chief Executive Officer of FSMB
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Indian and international medical regulatory institutions, improving licensing frameworks, and enhancing quality standards in medical education and healthcare delivery.
High-Level Institutional Engagements Across the United States
Apart from participating in the main summit sessions, the NMC delegation also visited several globally respected medical and academic institutions in the United States.
These included:
National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), Philadelphia
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
FSMB Headquarters, Washington D.C.
At the National Board of Medical Examiners, the delegation held detailed discussions with Dr Peter J. Katsufrakis regarding examination reforms and evolving assessment methodologies in medical education.
The discussions covered multiple important areas, including:
Medical licensing examination systems
Assessment and evaluation frameworks
Faculty development initiatives
Question content design and standardisation
Use of modern testing technologies and digital assessment tools
The NBME is globally recognised for co-developing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) in collaboration with FSMB.
Talks With ECFMG on Opportunities for Indian Medical Graduates
On the sidelines of the conference, the Indian delegation also met Dr Eric Holmboe, President and CEO of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
The meeting focused on issues affecting Indian medical graduates seeking higher training and residency opportunities in the United States.
Key topics discussed included:
ECFMG certification procedures
Sponsor note mechanisms
Credential verification systems
Coordination between ECFMG/Intealth and the National Medical Commission
International mobility pathways for Indian-trained doctors
ECFMG certification remains one of the most critical requirements for international medical graduates aspiring to enter accredited residency and postgraduate medical training programmes in the United States.
Discussions With Global Regulatory Authorities
The delegation also interacted with representatives of the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA), including its Chair Ms Nicole Krishnaswami.
Meetings were additionally held with several doctors and medical professionals of Indian origin currently serving in regulatory and licensing roles across various U.S. state medical boards.
The discussions focused on:
Clinical residency pathways
Interstate licensure mobility in the United States
Board certification systems
Career opportunities for internationally trained physicians
Regulatory harmonisation and global cooperation
Officials familiar with the visit described the engagement as an important step toward building stronger institutional partnerships between India and global healthcare regulators.
NMC’s Reform Agenda Under Dr Abhijat C. Sheth
The visit also highlighted the broader reform initiatives currently being undertaken by the National Medical Commission under the leadership of Dr Abhijat C. Sheth.
In recent years, the NMC has initiated several structural reforms aimed at modernising India’s medical education and regulatory architecture.
Major reform priorities include:
Strengthening the National Medical Register
Benchmarking Indian standards against international best practices
Improving medical assessment systems
Enhancing transparency in regulation
Expanding cooperation with international regulatory bodies
Healthcare experts believe these reforms are increasingly positioning India as a significant player in global medical education and professional regulation.
Who Is IAS Officer Dr Raghav Langer?
Dr Raghav Langer is a 2009-batch IAS officer of the Uttarakhand cadre and currently serves as Secretary in the National Medical Commission at the Joint Secretary level.
Born on May 16, 1982, he hails from Jammu and is widely recognised for his strong administrative record, policy expertise, and experience in governance and public administration.
Educational Qualifications
Dr Langer possesses an academic background that combines medicine, public policy, and administration.
His qualifications include:
MBBS from Government Medical College, Jammu
Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
Secured All India Rank 21 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2009
Key Administrative Roles Held by Dr Raghav Langer
Over the course of his career, Dr Langer has held several important administrative assignments at both the state and central government levels.
His major postings include:
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu
Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama
Deputy Commissioner of Kathua
Secretary, Planning and Development Department, Jammu & Kashmir
Director in the Ministry of Jal Shakti
Secretary, National Medical Commission (since March 2025)
He is widely regarded as an officer with strong expertise in governance, development planning, healthcare policy, and institutional administration.
Officials and policy experts say his participation in the global medical regulation summit reflects India’s increasing engagement with international healthcare governance and its growing efforts to align domestic medical education standards with evolving global practices.
