CHENNAI: In a last-minute attempt to pacify the government doctors, who have now lost their 50 per cent quota in PG degree courses, the government has redefined the “remote and difficult” areas to include all primary health centres in rural areas of the State.
While the rules of the Medical Council of India (MCI) do not permit the 50 per cent quota for government doctors, it has left it for the State government to define what “remote and difficult areas” are. Doctors serving in such areas will be awarded an incentive of additional 10 per cent marks to their NEET score for every year of service.
It is learnt that in a fresh order on Saturday, the State government redefined the term to include most of the rural PHCs.
The rank list for the counselling was released on Sunday, after awarding the incentive marks to the doctors who served in rural areas. “Around 80 per cent of the in-service doctors have made it to the top of the rank list. It is good. But it only means injustice done to other doctors (who served in government hospitals in non-rural areas),” said Dr N Gnanaprakasam, president of Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association.
He said the association members would stage a dharna at the venue on Monday to stop the counselling. “We along with other associations will conduct dharna at the counselling venue to stop it. And we will continue our protest till our demands are met,” said Gnanaprakasam.
As per the Supreme Court order, the counselling for the postgraduate medical and dental courses should have been completed by May 7. The State has already breached the deadline and is acting fast now.
Meanwhile, members of the Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association went to former CM J Jayalalithaa’s memorial and staged a protest against the State government’s inefficiency in protecting 50 per cent quota for government doctors.
Counselling venue to see protests
The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association said the members would stage a demonstration at the medical PG counselling venue on Monday. “We will continue our protest till our demands are met,” said Gnanaprakasam, president of the association.