Expedite process for holding NEET PG 2021, final year MBBS, FMGE exams: IMA to centre
Delhi: Considering the doctor shortage and burnout in the wake of the second wave of COVID 19, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has requested the health ministry and the concerned authorities to expedite the final MBBS, NEET PG, and FMGE exams so that young graduates can join their altruistic services at the earliest.
In its statement, pointing out that the number of COVID patients is most likely to reach the peak of 3.5 to 4 lacs within the next two weeks, IMA stressed the importance of ensuring more qualified doctors to handle the increase in the number of COVID patients.
"Whatever health care equipment's and infrastructures are arranged, without adequate qualified manpower, the system will crumble and care will be stressed out", IMA stated in a press release.
IMA pointed out that due to the delay in holding the NEET PG exams the healthcare sectors are deprived of 45000 postgraduate residents who can serve as the frontliners in the battle against COVID and thus can safeguard the patients. IMA, in a recent press release, stated that a total of 1,74,886 candidates have registered for NEET PG 2021, and waiting for the examinations to enter into post-graduation courses. Once the exams are over most of these doctors will join as junior residents in various institutions when they are not selected for PG Course.
Now, as at the last minute the Honorable Health Minister had postponed the exams without the rescheduled dates, the large chunk of 1,74,886 doctors are continuing their preparations for the competitive NEET-PG examination though they could have joined any hospital by this time.
IMA requested the Health Ministry to expedite the admission procedure and complete it at the earliest in war footing to replenish the health care with much more vigil young health care professionals as postgraduates and junior doctors.
" The doctors who are going to serve in the COVID care works are competent enough to protect them during the examination rituals also. The entire process of admissions can be completed within a month's time if real concentrated efforts are taken which is the need of the hour", added the association.
The association also stated that as most of the health care universities have postponed the final year UG exams and thereby the interns entering into the health care systems for their one-year compulsory internship are delayed and in many institutions, already joined interns have completed their internship and relieved creating an acute shortage of interns in many medical colleges.
" As an emergency means the National Medical Commission and Universities shall come forward to conduct the final year exams under online mode and enable the passed out 80000/- doctors to join the health care force to augments its expertise care", suggested IMA.
The association also noted that nearly one lakh foreign medical graduates awaiting the clearance of FMGE exam, mandatorily required to practice in India, even after successfully completing their medical courses in various foreign countries. Only 15% qualify for the exam while the others are not able to serve.
While admitting in principles these exams are mandatory to restore quality care, under the current circumstances, IMA suggested that onetime measures shall be taken to conduct a liberal screening test and enrolling as many of these foreign medical graduates into our health care institutions to augment the manpower.
Insisting that ensuring a sufficient workforce is the only way to handle the pandemic, IMA further added," By conducting these exams with COVID appropriate precautions, exams centres spread out to all districts and permitting all students to get the centres within their district, most of our young graduates will take up this challenge in their commitment to serve the Nations, thereby enabling our country to face these dreaded phases of pandemic victoriously and flatten the curve."
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