Maha DMER follows NMC guidelines, Extends Residency timeline for PG medicos after deferring PG exams

In the circular released on Friday, DMER has reinstated the guidelines given by NMC a few days ago. As per the latest DMER circular, the final-year postgraduate medical exams have also been pushed to July. The exams were initially scheduled to commence on June 24. 

This comes after the recent advisory released by the NMC that Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about. The advisory by NMC directed that in light of the delay in the conduction of NEET PG 2021 and all other medical examinations across the medical institutions, all the PG medical students will continue their services as resident doctors until a fresh batch of MBBS graduates joins to serve.

Also Read: PG Students can continue as Residents until fresh batch joins: NMC

This decision had been taken to ensure that there would not be any shortage of Residents to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

It had come to the notice of the Commission that due to the surge of COVID-19 Cases, the Final year examination of postgraduate courses [Diploma/MD/MS] has been delayed in many Colleges/ institutions. Besides, NEET OG 2021 examination for admission to postgraduate courses has also been delayed. Consequently, the start of academic session 2021-22 will be delayed and a new batch of PG students will join their respective colleges only after counselling which will happen only after PG-NEET is held.

Therefore, taking note of these circumstances and in view of the extraordinary situation due to a surge of COVID-19 cases, the apex medical regulator had released the advisory concerning the extension for services by Final Year Postgraduate [Diploma / MD / MS] students.

Also Read: NO exams: FORDA demands direct promotion for MD, MS, DNB final year students

Hindustan Times has reported that now Maharashtra DMER has followed a similar path and extended the period of residency for Post-graduate students.

Mentioning that there was no clarity on the period of extension from NMC, TP Lahane, director of DMER told the daily, "We are bound by NMC rules and will have to follow it. DMER has informed all colleges in Maharashtra to ensure that NMC rules are followed."

"The term of final-year doctors ends on April 30. We have recommended postponement of exams and extension of their term. We will review the situation towards May end and then decide whether to extend their term by another month," Lahane told the Times of India.

Although Maharashtra is utilizing the service of medical interns and the doctors serving the bonds, relieving the final-year PG medicos could ultimately lead to a shortage of doctors in the rural areas, Lahane further informed TOI.

Meanwhile, the daily further adds that the controller of MUHS, Ajit Pathak has informed that the board of examinations will discuss the proposal of the State Government. The Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC), however, has issued directions to extend the term of resident doctors in the civic hospitals till May 15.

Medical Dialogues had also reported that following the guidelines issued by NMC, the National Medicos Organization had written to the National Medical Commission (NMC) as well as the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), demanding that the additional period be counted towards senior residency and not as junior residency.

The medicos had demanded that during the extra period served at the respective trainee hospitals, the junior resident doctors receive salary benefits of Senior Residents and also get experience certificates for the extra-time served.

Also Read: Count additional period of service as Senior Residency: Medicos write to NMC, PMO