NEET SS: Doctors flag concern over vacant seats, call for another counselling round

Consequently, back in July, NBEMS reduced the qualifying percentile for NEET SS 2024 stray round counselling and announced that all the candidates who had appeared for the NEET SS-2024 exam with an eligible broad-speciality degree (MD/MS/DNB) shall be allowed to participate in the stray round of NEET-SS Super Specialty Counselling 2024.

However, reportedly around four to five hundred super-speciality seats are still lying vacant even after three rounds of counselling. Referring to this, NEET-SS 2024 aspirants are urging the authorities to hold another round of counselling.

Commenting on the matter, a NEET-SS 2024 aspirant told Medical Dialogues on the condition of anonymity, "Even after three rounds of NEET-SS 2024 counselling, including the stray vacancy round, many seats are still vacant- especially in surgical speciality."

When asked about the data regarding the vacant super-speciality seats, "We do not have an exact idea," adding that the estimated number is four to five hundred. He pointed out that even the Supreme Court had emphasized that no super-speciality seat should go vacant. 

He added that aspirants have been urging the authorities to hold one more round of NEET-SS 2024 counselling. According to him, another round of counselling will help the candidates who could not get their preferred seats for any reason, and it will also help the Government to fill up the vacant seats.

Also Read: Breaking: All candidates now eligible for NEET SS 2024 stray round counselling

The issue was recently also raised by the National Spokesperson of the Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors' Network (IMA-JDN), Dr. Dhruv Chauhan. In an X post, Dr. Chauhan wrote, "Received requests from many NEET super speciality aspirants that : Despite three rounds of counselling, including stray counselling, many super specialty seats remain vacant. Given the Hon'ble Supreme Court's judgement that these seats are a national treasure and shouldn't go waste, I humbly request @NbeIndia to look into this . An additional round of counselling to fill these vacant seats, allowing eligible and interested candidates is required. @MoHFW_INDIA."

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court took note of the issue of vacant super speciality seats. While considering a batch of pleas filed by successful candidates who had abandoned NEET-SS courses, the Supreme Court took cognisance of the issue and directed the Central Government to hold a meeting with the stakeholders of all States/UTs and private medical colleges to fill up the vacancies for the upcoming academic year. Back in 2023 also, the Apex Court had highlighted the importance of filling the super-specialty medical seats.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues regarding the issue, Dr. Dhruv Chauhan said, "It is very unfortunate that when the country is lacking superspecialist doctors, the NEET SS seats are remaining vacant due to extremely high fee structure, lack of infrastructure and good teaching faculties because of low pay scale given to them."

"The education system in medicine needs reforms for which the current regime of government is not ready!" he added.

Also Read: Ensure no Medical Seat Remains Vacant: Supreme Court tells Centre