Expedite NEET SS 2021 Counselling: Doctors write to Health Minister

Expressing its concern over the anguish and unrest among the super-specialists, the association has dropped a hint of agitation in the letter if the problem doesn't get sorted soon.

However, Dr Rohan Krishnan, the president of FAIMA has informed Medical Dialogues that they are in constant verbal communication with the Health Ministry as they want to sort out the issue without any kind of strike activities.

As per the previous schedule, the NEET-SS 2021 examination was scheduled to take place in mid-November 2021. However, it was rescheduled for the 10^th of January 2021 due to a court case that concerned the examination scheme. Finally, the exam took place in January and the results were also published on January 31, 2022. However, even after the publication of results the counselling process got suspended indefinitely because of another case that is pending against NEET SS-2021 in the Supreme Court.

"A Tamil Nadu government order dated November 7, 2020, which allocated 50 per cent of seats for Super-Speciality courses for in-service doctors of Tamil Nadu, has been challenged by the petitioners. They claim that they had appeared for the examination on the basis of the NEET-SS 2021 Information Bulletin, which explicitly stated that there would be no reservation of seats for Super-Speciality courses. The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice on 7^th February 2022 on the petition challenging the Tamil Nadu government's order regarding the reservation of doctors in the NEET SS-2021," FAIMA mentioned in the letter directed to the Union Health Minister.

Medical Dialogues had also reported earlier that recently the Madras High Court bench passed its final order in the matter and HC directed the State Government to allocate 50 per cent of the super-speciality seats in DM/Mch courses in government medical colleges to in-service doctors in Tamil Nadu for the current academic year 2021-2022. However the HC order was challenged before the Apex Court and as a result, the NEET SS-2021 counselling process got deferred.

Also Read: NEET SS 2021: 50 percent Reservation for In-Service doctors challenged, Supreme Court issues notice

Referring to the issue, the association mentioned in the letter, "Consequently, the new batch of NEET SS-2021 is already six months late. Furthermore, the super specialization resident doctors who are currently working are overworked due to no new residents joining for the last year. During this time of the pandemic, when more people are needed to facilitate the best possible treatment for more patients, delaying NEET SS-2021 counselling will result in a further burnout of the already-stretched workforce and compromise patient care."

"Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) stand with the overworked and stressed-out residents of super specialization batches and also support the aspiring candidates of NEET-SS 2021 who have already qualified NEET SS-2021 with good ranks and awaiting admission to their respective super specialization courses. Our concern is this sight of anguish and unrest among super specialists, and therefore we call the concerned authorities to expedite the NEET SS 2021 counselling process so that an adequate workforce is available to deal with any form of health care crisis effectively," further mentioned the letter.

Threatening to go on strike, the association added in the letter, "We hope that the appropriate authorities will address our concern on an urgent basis and they will take action to prevent the manifestations of anguish in the form of agitation!"

Speaking to Medical Dialogues regarding the issue, "Usually by July-August, the fresh batch joins. However, first because of COVID and then because of the legal complications, it has been continuously deferred time and again. So, there has been a delay of around 8 months."

When asked how this is affecting the healthcare facilities, he said, "Due to the pandemic, patients were lesser in numbers in super-specialities as the elective procedures were being delayed. Now with the pandemic decreasing, the routine services are getting back to normal. So, all the surgical procedures are taking place very frequently. On the other hand, there is a lack of manpower which is leading towards the suffering of the patients, and declining quality of healthcare services."

Responding to the question if they are planning any kind of strike for their demands, Dr Rohan added, "FAIMA doctors association, personally, doesn't want to pursue strike as it ultimately affects the healthcare system. So, we are in constant verbal communication with the Health Ministry to solve the problem."

He also expressed his frustration regarding the continuous delay in the admission process in all levels because of the pending legal complications. "We will request the Ministry to have some kind of law against it. After publication of results, if someone thinks that he or she would have secured a better seat because of any reservation, it ultimately affects everyone."