The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has voiced its concern over the prolonged delay in the NEET PG 2024 counselling process, urging the government to take swift action. In a letter addressed to Union Health Minister J P Nadda, the IMA highlights the significant distress experienced by thousands of aspiring doctors due to the ongoing legal proceedings in the Supreme Court.
The IMA emphasizes that the delay in the counselling process is not only causing immense uncertainty for the future of these candidates, who have worked tirelessly to qualify for postgraduate medical seats, but is also impacting the smooth functioning of healthcare institutions nationwide. The timely induction of postgraduate students is crucial to ensure the availability of qualified medical professionals in hospitals and medical colleges.
While acknowledging the importance of judicial processes and the need for legal clarity, the IMA firmly believes that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare must actively intervene to explore solutions that mitigate the adverse effects of the delay on students’ academic and professional aspirations.
The prolonged delay in counselling could lead to substantial disruptions in the academic calendar, impacting the overall training and deployment of specialist doctors across the country. This concern becomes even more critical at a time when the healthcare system is already facing significant pressure.
Furthermore, the IMA points out the dilemma faced by several state counselling committees regarding the awarding of incentive marks to in-service candidates due to the non-disclosure of marks this year. This creates another potential obstacle to the smooth progression of the counselling process. To address this issue, the IMA has requested the declaration of a normalized score to facilitate the seamless conduct of state quota counselling.
In their letter, the IMA appeals to the Ministry to engage with relevant authorities, including the Supreme Court, to expedite the resolution of the pending case. They strongly urge the government to explore interim measures that could allow the counselling process to commence, ensuring that the interests of both students and the healthcare system are protected.
