New Pilot: PG doctors in Odisha to get placements based on their NEET scores

Bhubaneswar: Aiming to ensure transparency in placement of Postgraduate (PG) doctors, the State Government of Odisha is arranging an online counselling on the basis of their NEET score.

This new policy, introduced by the Odisha Government, will help to determine the postings of the PG doctors and fulfill their bond conditions. Issuing a notification in this regard on December 16, 2022, the Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) department of Odisha mentioned that two merit lists will be prepared for the PG doctors- one for the direct candidates and the other one for the in-service doctors.

In case of the In-service candidates, the score will be modified after adding the additional weightage of numbers, if any, to determine the merit. Thereafter a discipline-wise merit list shall be prepared.

Also Read: One year service in Rural, tribal areas now Mandatory for PG Medicos in Andhra Pradesh

As per the latest media report by Pragativadi, a database shall also be maintained for the online counselling. Besides, the charge of the online counselling and placement of doctors shall be given to the agency selected for the PG counselling and admission and the agency will make the arrangements as per the terms and conditions. 

The online portal shall also maintain the data regarding the initial posting of doctors, their subsequent deployment in peripheral institutions, doctors going abroad for higher studies, defaulters etc. All such deployment shall also be notified in the website.

The Government has decided to appoint PG doctors as specialists (broad specialty) or junior consultants (super specialist) in the existing vacant posts of senior resident or tutor in government medical colleges and hospitals (MCHs).

While the deployment of doctors in the district headquarters hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals and first referral units shall be made on the basis of the load of the concerned institute, the junior consultants and pre and para clinical doctors will be posted in medical colleges on the basis of need.

New Indian Express adds that already the Odisha Health department has asked the Director of Health Services and Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) for deciding the discipline and number of doctors required to be posted in the peripheral health institutions under a medical college.

According to the instruction of the DMET, the deans and principals will deploy the PG doctors (excluding the super specialist and pre and para clinical doctors) posted under them in peripheral health institutions tagged to their medical college on rotation basis. These doctors will be deployed for a period of six months.

In this regard, the office of the DMET shall set up a dedicated cell for regulating the management of post PG doctor deployment, database and certification. One programme assistant, two data assistants and one group D staff deployed on outsource basis will be in charge of management of the cell.

The service provider agency selected under DMET shall be responsible for providing these staff members. The remuneration of these members shall be at par to the rate as followed in NHM. Apart from this, the DMET shall also provide logistics like computer and accessories (printers, internet, office stationeries) etc. The cost of renumeration, logistics etc. shall be provided by the available fund under DMET from PG counselling and admission work.

DMET shall issue experience certificates to doctors as per initial posting order at MCH. While commenting on this, the Health Secretary Shalini Pandit TNIE that the State has already taken various steps for fulfilling the vacant posts of doctors and specialists in the peripheral hospitals and MCHs. She further added, "The new policy will facilitate the process and make it transparent. The counselling for placement of PG doctors will be online instead of physical mode conducted earlier."

Also Read: Odisha MBBS seat scam case: ED attaches Rs 58.15 Lakh assets