Telangana: 30 percent state quota demanded by in-service doctors in PG admissions

Vijaywada: The in-service qualifiers of NEET PG 2018 are wondering whether their selection will be done by weightage of scores or reservation meant for them. The apex education regulator had earlier in the year issued guidelines that the admissions will be done with 15 percent weightage. However, protests by in-service doctors led to the council putting their decision on hold.

6,078 candidates qualified from Andhra Pradesh alone in the NEET PG exam this year.

Of the above number, over 200 belong to them in the service category. Last year 30% reservation was granted to in-service medical doctors. This year the situation has changed with Andhra having joined the national pool. 50 percent of seats in the State will be filled at the national level, while the other 50 would remain to be filled. The in-service doctors have raised the demand that 30% of these be granted to them under the reserved category as has been the case in the past.

“A majority of people depend on government hospitals and most of the MBBS doctors are serving at the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and other government institutions. Before surrendering 50 percent of seats to the national pool as is required under NEET, we used to fill 30 percent of seats under in-service quota, but now we are left with only 15 percent seats. This affects the system as no other MBBS doctor would opt for government service if they don’t have service quota,” Dr D Jayadheer, an in-service doctor told the New Indian Express.

The Medical Council of India regulation grants 30 % additional marks to in-service doctors in states that have opted for the national pool for three-year service

There are 738 PG seats in Andhra of which 50% (369) will be given to the national pool while the remaining are to be filled by the State government. Presently, the in-service category are to be given 30 more marks.

“We participate in almost 15 government programmes in a day. Apart from this, we also attend emergencies and our duties irrespective of the timings. With all these, we couldn’t find time for our study and cannot compete with those who graduated freshly and started PG preparation. It is unfair to prepare the merit list based on the rank of non-service candidates in the rankers list. We demand separate ranking and separate reservation and examination without negative marking.” said a Vijayawada resident to the TNIE.

He added that the state’s in service medical fraternity was asking for a 30% weightage which was the case with all other state quotas.

Counseling for PG seats is likely to commence from March 24. Doctors plan to stage demonstrations if the government does not follow the 30% marks weightage for in-service quota.