Bangalore: Writing to the Prime Minister, the Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI) has asked for awarding grace marks to NEET PG aspirants joining Covid-19 duties as a measure to encourage them. Although in the letter dated 06.05.2021, the association praised the measures taken by the Central Government to enhance the medical human resources to fight the pandemic, it also mentioned that these measures "may not be enough to tackle the urgent issue at hand."
The Association has also suggested giving the same privilege to the interns joining Covid-19 duties by awarding them grace marks in the NEET-PG examination. Apart from these, other suggestions included giving additional marks to foreign medical graduates joining Covid duties in their screening examination, and awarding final year nursing and other allied health students grace marks in their final examinations.
Also Read: NEET PG postponed for 4 months, exam only after 31st August 2021: PMO
This comes after the recent announcements made by the Prime Minister's Office to tackle the pandemic. Medical Dialogues had recently reported that in a major slew of announcements, the Prime Minister's Office had announced its decision to postpone NEET-PG for at least 4 months and utilize the services of fresh pass-outs for COVID duties.
"The State/UT Governments are to make all efforts to reach out to each such prospective NEET candidate and request them to join the Covid – 19 workforce in this hour of need. The services of these MBBS doctors can be utilized in the management of COVID – 19," stated the PMO release.
It was also decided to deploy Medical Interns in Covid Management duties under the supervision of their faculty, utilize the services of the Final year MBBS students for teleconsultation and monitoring mild Covid cases, and continue utilizing the services of Final Year PG students as residents until fresh batches of PG students have joined.
Apart from these, the release also mentioned giving full-time Covid nursing duties to B.Sc./GNM Qualified Nurses under the supervision of Senior Doctors and Nurses. Announcements were made to giving priority to the individuals providing Covid duties in forthcoming regular Government recruitments after they complete a minimum of 100 days of Covid duty.
However, AHPI opined that these measures (financial incentives and recognition by issuance certificates) may not be enough to tackle the urgent issue at hand.
"We bring to your kind notice that the medical professionals – doctors nurses and allied health staff and supporting staff have been working tirelessly for months now, and are fatigued, and may not be able to cope with even the existing patients in hospitals much longer," stated the letter signed by President of AHPI, Dr Alexander Thomas.
The letter mentioned several suggestions and asked the Prime Minister to consider them on a priority basis. The suggestions included,
"1. All doctors writing the next NEET exam to be offered grace marks for COVID duty in ICUs. This process is already being followed when Government doctors apply for MD/ MS and NBE, they get up to 30% of marks obtained as additional marks for Government service.
2. The interns who opt to work in COVID ICUs also to get the above privilege.
3. Foreign Medical Graduates, assigned to work in COVID ICUs to be given additional marks for their screening examination. These are ready resource and must be utilized in full.
4. Another urgent need is nursing and allied health professionals. As requested earlier, final year nursing and allied health students awaiting examinations to be awarded grace marks for the final exams, if they work in a COVID ICU. It is well within the purview of the Indian Nursing Council and respective Paramedical Councils to approve these measures in the present warlike situation."
"These incentives are an addition to the earlier ones proposed like preference in government jobs etc. We once again request you to consider these suggestions urgently. We are confident that these will go a long way in helping us face this unprecedented crisis that our country is facing now," added the letter.
The recent letter is a follow-up of a previous letter by the association. In the previous letter, the association also suggested taking some measures considering the situation. These measures included conducting NEET-PG online, grace marks for aspirants and interns joining Covid duties, providing exemption to foreign students from writing FMG examination, among others.
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