25 percent reservation for doctors after 3 years rural service in Maharashtra

Mumbai: With an aim to ensure availability of specialists in the rural and tribal areas, the Maharashtra Government has introduced 25 per cent in-service reservation in PG medical admissions in the State.

The medical officers employed under the State Health Department will now be able to avail this reservation benefit after completion of at least 3 years of service in the rural and tribal public healthcare centres.

The Government took this call in a joint meeting held between the Maharashtra Public Health and Medical Education Department. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar chaired the meeting.

Confirming the news, the State Health Minister Rajesh Tope mentioned on Twitter, "Considering the fact that people in rural and tribal areas have to go to the district hospital for treatment by specialists, in order to provide adequate specialists to the hospitals of the public health department, regarding 25% of the total number of post-graduate degrees available in the state and government colleges..."

"The government has decided to reserve it for the medical officers of the health department. At least 3 years of service will be the condition for the reserved quota for post graduate degree under service," he added.

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"Due to this important and far-reaching decision, specialist services will be available to patients in rural and tribal areas near the village in the next 10 years," added the Minister.

While commenting on the matter, an official from the medical education department told Indian Express, "After completing MBBS degree, candidates who have served three years continuously in government health facilities in rural and tribal areas will be eligible to seek admission under this. After completing PG, these candidates will then have to serve a bond of five years of service in government health facilities."

The official further mentioned that the in-service reservation benefits already existed as such candidates would be allowed to avail benefits in the form of incentives of marks. Government medical officers were provided with a maximum of 30 per cent of incentives in their NEET PG score. However, now those incentive marks would be valid for only for the seats under the 25 per cent reserved seats as a part of the in-service quota.

Speaking to TOI, the former director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Pravin Shingare pointed out that since the year 2014, medical officers employed at PHCs were eligible for 50% PG Diploma seats. However, on the basis of a directive issued by erstwhile MCI, all diploma seats had been converted to degree.

Meanwhile, a parent representative told the Indian Express, "This further reduces the seats available for open-category students. It is better to allow incentives in marks for their service."

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