Reduce NEET-PG 2024 Cut-off: Doctors write to Health Minister

New Delhi: Highlighting the vacant postgraduate medical seats after the conclusion of the All India 2nd Round of NEET PG 2024 counselling, the doctors under the Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors' Network (IMA JDN) have urged the Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda to reduce the cut-off marks for the PG medical entrance exam to fill up the vacant seats.

Dr Indranil Deshmukh, the National Convenor of IMA JDN informed Medical Dialogues "It is being speculated that after the completion of Round 2 All India Counselling, 15000-16000 PG seats may remain vacant."

The doctors stressed that reducing the NEET PG cut-off marks would ensure optimal utilization of available medical seats, provide aspirants another chance to pursue their desired career path, foster talent development, and address the disparity between the growing demand for specialized healthcare services and the availability of qualified professionals.

"We would like to bring to your kind attention the pressing issue of vacant postgraduate seats following the conclusion of the All India 2nd Round of NEET PG counseling for the academic year 2024. Despite the extensive efforts by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) and other authorities, a significant number of PG seats remain unfilled across the country," the association mentioned in the letter directed to the Union Health Minister.

"This situation is a matter of grave concern as these vacancies translate into an underutilization of valuable resources in our healthcare education system and hinder the development of a robust medical workforce," the letter further mentioned.

Considering this scenario, the association urged the Minister to consider reducing the cut-off marks for NEET PG 2024. IMA Junior Doctors opined that this measure would ensure that eligible and competent can get an opportunity to secure these seats, thereby strengthening the healthcare delivery system in India.

"Additionally, it would prevent the wastage of precious educational resources and alleviate the existing shortage of specialists in various medical fields," the letter dated 15.12.2024 further mentioned.

As per the association, a reduction in the NEET PG cut-off marks will:

1. Ensure optimal utilization of available medical seats.

2. Provide aspirants another chance to pursue their desired career paths, fostering talent development.

3. Address the disparity between the growing demand for specialized healthcare services and the availability of qualified professionals.

"We remain hopeful that your intervention in this matter will result in a positive outcome, benefiting both the medical fraternity and the nation at large. We look forward to your kind consideration and favorable action at the earliest. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue," the letter added.

Also Read: NEET PG Counselling 2024- MCC Declares Round 2 Final Result

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) recently declared the final result of NEET PG Round 2 counselling 2024.

As per the Final result, a total of 31490 candidates are qualified in the NEET PG Round 2 Counselling 2024. This result is regarding the seat allotment result for MD, MS, and DNB admissions under 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats.

Reporting and joining in the allotted colleges will be done from 13 December to 20 December 2024. Verification of the data of the candidates joined by the institutes sharing the data by MCC will be done from 21 December to 22 December 2024.

There is indeed precedence to the doctors demand as well. Last year, providing major relief to postgraduate medical aspirants, the Union Health Ministry directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to reduce the cut-off for qualifying percentile for NEET-PG 2023 to "Zero" across all categories.

The Union Health Minister took this decision when doctors across the country had been demanding a reduction in the NEET-PG 2023 cut-off criteria. At the same time, this decision had been criticised from a section of the medical fraternity who had expressed their concerns that reducing the cut-off to zero might result in compromising the quality of PG medical education.

Also Read: Removing qualifying cut-off does not mean candidates with zero percentile will get seats, NEET PG counselling to continue till all seats are filled: Govt sources