Over 45,000 junior doctors can now join the workforce after counselling. (Representational)
Counselling for medical admissions under the National Eligibility/Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) will begin from Wednesday, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said today.
The announcement comes after the Supreme Court on Friday ended the stalemate over admissions to medical colleges by clearing new quotas. Over 45,000 junior doctors can now join the workforce after counselling, which comes as India fights a surge of Covid cases driven by the Omicron variant.
"NEET-PG counseling is being started by MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) from January 12, 2022, following the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, as assured by the Ministry of Health to the resident doctors. This will give more strength to the country in the fight against Corona. My best wishes to all the candidates," the minister tweeted in Hindi.
NEET-PG is a qualifying exam for medical students for admission to over 100 private and government colleges. Those who clear it are given 'counselling' - they are directed to universities and colleges based on marks and chosen specialisation and can work under senior colleagues' supervision.
The counselling was scheduled to begin last October but was delayed after petitions were filed against a government notification announcing the reservation of seats for OBC (Other Backward Classes) and EWS candidates. Due to this, almost 45,000 junior doctors were not admitted last year, overburdening those already attending to patients amid the pandemic.
Resident doctors in several states, including Delhi, came out on the streets to protest over the delay in the counselling process.
Clearing the way for medical admissions after a four-month delay, the Supreme Court on Friday allowed 27 per cent reservation for OBC and 10 per cent quota for students from poor families, and said that the counselling must begin in "national interest".