Allow all NEET PG candidates in mop-up counselling, stray vacancy round: IMA

The Indian Medical Association, IMA, has requested the Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya to allow all the candidates who appeared for the NEET PG exam to be allowed in the mop-up counselling and stray vacancy round.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has requested the Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviyar, that all applicants who took the NEET PG test be allowed to participate in the mop-up counselling and stray vacancy round without regard to cut-off conditions.

The concerned candidates have otherwise passed their graduation exams and thereby fulfilled the basic eligibility criteria, the IMA said.

The IMA further said in a letter that the country cannot afford any vacancies in any medical field as it is passing through a grave medical emergency.

The IMA went on to add that many post-graduate seats remain vacant annually due to insufficient candidates opting out for them, according to the available data.

It further claimed that seats remain vacant even in prestigious government colleges in the para-clinical and basic subjects.

"One must see that they have worked in the Covid-19 pandemic as interns, junior residents and other capacity and are registered medical graduates. Also, they are to undergo vigorous training and have to pass a final MD/MS exam before being awarded a degree," said the IMA.

The doctors' organisation then added, "India needs a lot of specialist doctors and one must understand that no seat should remain vacant when aspiring candidates are waiting to take admission but could not due to eligibility bar."