Additional super-speciality seats to Tamil Nadu, raises the no to 202

Chennai: Tamil Nadu which happens to be way ahead in the field of super specialty studies in the country has received a fresh impetus by being given an approval for 13 additional super specialty seats for this academic year by the Medical Council of India. The present number of seats in government medical colleges has gone upto 202 the highest till now among government institutions in the country.

Following is the increase for the current academic session:

According to G Selvaraj, Selection Committee Secretary the total number of seats last year totalled at 189 of which 82 were for Doctorate of Medicine and 107 were MCh seats.

However, the latest Supreme court decision in 2015 which makes Post graduate admissions open to students from all states, taking away domicile prerogative has become a setback for students of the state.

Prior to the 2015, SC decision the state conducted examinations and only students of the state competed for the super speciality seats. 50% seats were reserved for government service doctors. Later the Council rules made it compulsory that seats be filled the through NEET-SS, which is to begin this year.

“Not putting up a strong fight on this was a big mistake. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of super-speciality seats because the State has taken a lot of efforts and spent money to develop infrastructure and faculty, whereas there are states that do not have even a single postgraduate medical seat,” said K Senthil, President, Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association, putting forth an argument on the issue of sharing seats with aspirants from other states.

He pointed out that half the seats used to go to government doctors who continued in service till retirement,

Senthil expressed apprehension about a total absence of would not super-speciality doctors in the State in the coming years if doors were opened to outsiders.

“Through NEET-SS, there is possibility that not even a single seat would go to Tamil candidates. It would be a disincentive for the State from investing so much on development of medical colleges and other facilities if it does not benefit from it,” he told the Indian Express.