Indian Medical Association (IMA) recently requested and advised the central government to fasten the process of conducting medical entrance exams in the country for postgraduate candidates. These exams include the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) PG 2021 and the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) 2021. Both exams have been postponed to a later date due to the rising COVID-19 cases in the country. However, according to IMA, these exams must be conducted as soon as possible to increase the medical manpower to handle the pandemic.
Secretary General of IMA, Jayesh M. Lele addressed this issue by stating that medical manpower is the need of the hour. Hence the association requests the government to fasten the admission process and complete it as soon as possible. This shall help to replenish the scarce medical manpower with young and efficient healthcare professionals.
The influx of professionals shall comprise postgraduates and junior doctors. The secretary general further clarified that these new professionals shall be working as frontline workers in the pandemic. Hence, they are efficient enough to protect themselves against the virus and undergo the examination formalities as well.
As per the NBE records, a total of 1,74,886 candidates registered for the NEET PG 2021 examination, who are waiting for the rescheduled dates of the exam. According to IMA, most of these candidates shall be functioning as junior residents in various hospitals across the country. To do so, however, they must first appear for the deferred medical entrance exam.
Mr. Lele also acknowledged the overburdening of the healthcare system due to the second wave of COVID-19. Daily, 2.6 lakh coronavirus positive cases are being reported in the country. These cases shall soon climb up to 3.5 to 4 lakhs in the upcoming two weeks. Thus, the country is in dire need of highly qualified doctors to manage and overcome the pandemic.
The postponement of NEET PG 2021 has halted the possibility of acquiring nearly 45,000 postgraduate residents. As history presents, these residents are leading the nation’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The secretary general went onto provide a general timeline for conducting postgraduate admissions. According to him, the entire admission process shall take about a month to complete. To achieve this, a robust and concentrated administrative system is needed. Along with entrance exams, final-year UG exams have also been postponed. Due to this, students who appear for a compulsory one-year internship after their exams have also been restricted.
Taking all these points into consideration, IMA has requested the central government to hasten the admission process. The second wave of COVID-19 has gravely affected the country. To overcome this wave, the country is in immediate need of more doctors and medical professionals.
