MBBS graduates in the state are up in arms against the Centre’s NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) notification for PG medical admission.
Doctors fear that the Centre has given them a raw deal by notifying Neet for PG medical admission in its present form.
As per the notification, MBBS graduates would be admitted to all but premier Central medical institutions.
They would have to take separate tests for admissions to AIIMS, JIPMER and NIMHANS among others, undoing the purpose of NEET, which was introduced to spare medicos from taking too many entrance tests for PG admission.
Saritha Jayakumar, a final-year MBBS student in a government medical college, says, “Why should I take an eligibility test after completing MBBS? Is my UG medical degree of no value?”
“I will have to spend several thousands to take separate tests in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Bengaluru for different Central institutions,” complained Arthy Sarvanan, another medico.
“It is ok to have entrance tests for finalising candidates for limited PG seats. But, eligibility test is unwarranted at PG level,” DASE president, Dr G.R. Ravindarnath, argued.
Neet should be replaced with a common ‘entrance’ test covering all Central institutions, management quota seats in private institutions and DNB (Diplomate in National Board).
Also, cut-off marks for SC/STs, OBCs and OCs should be eliminated and seats ought to be allotted based on total marks scored in the entrance test, Dr Ravindarnath emphasised, adding that the Centre should not infringe on state’s rights in allotting 50 per cent seats under its purview.
“The Centre should not interfere in state medical college admissions. It should allow states to apply systems of their own,” he argued.
The new notification also makes it mandatory for states to obtain the consent of the Centre and MCI to fill vacant ‘reserved’ PG seats every year.
This stringent provision would deprive states of their rights and directly affect reservation as the MCI and Union are for transferring vacant reserved seats to OC category.
Chief minister Jayalalithaa wrote to the PM opposing a similar notification for BDS admission months back.