CHENNAI: The Union government will directly conduct the admission counselling for super-speciality medical courses this year.
Though the seats are open for students from other States, so far the State governments were conducting the counselling. This year, the Union health ministry would conduct the counselling. This is being opposed by Tamil Nadu doctors who feel that it infringes on the role of the State governments.
Earlier, the State used to conduct counselling through entrance examination and only candidates from Tamil Nadu were allotted super-speciality seats. Also, 50 per cent of seats were reserved for government service doctors.
It may be noted that recently Tamil Nadu received the formal nod for 13 additional super-speciality seats for this academic year from the Medical Council of India, taking its total number of super-specialty seats in government medical colleges to 202. This is the highest in the country among government institutions.
G R Ravindranath, general secretary, Doctors’ Association for Social Equality said, “This totally infringes on the role of State governments. After the Supreme Court order, seats were opened for candidates from all the other States. This will definitely ruin the State health care system. Because, candidates from other States will study and leave. They won’t do service in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
“Now over 50,000 candidates appeared from NEET-SS across the country and there would be only around 2,500 doctors from Tamil Nadu. If the seats are open only for Tamil Nadu, a majority of them would have got the seats”, Ravindranath said.
P Balakrishnan, Chennai district president of Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association said the State government should bring in a special law to protect the rights of the State. It should conduct counselling and fill the seats. Otherwise, super-speciality care will be affected.
Another doctor said the State spent a big sum to develop infrastructure and faculty. Government doctors who get these seats would do government service till their retirement. Now, this will be affected. There would not be any super speciality doctors in the State in the coming years if this continues.
Meanwhile, the Directorate-General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, announced in its website that counselling for super -speciality seats will be conducted from August 12 based on NEET-SS.