Doctors seeks postponement of NEET PG eligibility criteria till May-June

Delhi: Right after the announcement of the date of exam for NEET PG, doctors' associations have pointed out that many interns will not be eligible to appear for NEET PG 2023 as the internship completion date is set on 31.03.23. 

 Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors' Network (IMA JDN) has submitted a letter to Dr Suresh Chandra Sharma, Chairman, National Medical Commission (NMC) requesting him to postponed the eligibility criteria from 31st March 2023 to 30th June 2023. 

"Students will suffer due to COVID Pandemic & delay in result publications by concerned universities," stated the association.

As per the Information Bulletin published by NBEMS on 7th January, the Eligibility Criteria for NEET PG 2023 is completion of Internship by March 31st. Approximately 75% Interns in Maharashtra and around the country are not eligible to appear for the exam.

The Special Stray vacancy round of counseling started from 6th January is still under process which puts the students in dilemma whether to focus on counselling or NEET PG 2023 application process. Every year interns and other students are facing similar issues, with the Eligibility criteria, delayed counseling, and decisions that are never sync with keeping students as priority, which is affecting their mental health and work productivity.

"We, IMA JDN Maharashtra chapter demand Postponement of Eligibility Criteria from 31st March to 30th June 2023 for the above stated reasons. Herewith attached is the list of Eligibility of interns around the country for reference. We request you to consider this and take appropriate actions immediately," stated the association.

Commenting on the issue, Dr Rajatt Chandak state Convener IMA-JDN Maharshtra stated, " 75% of the interns from the last batch will not be able to appear for the NEET examination due to the eligibility criteria. If the government considers to increase the criteria till 31st May or June, it is going to be number of in terms who are preparing for NEET PG." 

National Board of examinations has announced that NEET PG 2023 will be held on 5th March 2023. The result will be declared By 31st March 2023. 

Medical Dialogues previously reported that the Supreme Court gave its nod for extending the cut-off date  last year for the Postgraduate medical admissions for the academic year 2022-2023  until November 25, 2022. Last year, the apex medical education regulatory body approached the Apex court with its application for extending the cut-off date on the ground of the messed up academic calendar due to the pandemic. This year the aspirants are seeking relief on eligibility criteria to ensure that 75% of the medicos are not deprived of a chance to appear for NEET PG.