In a high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has been decided that National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET PG) 2021 shall be postponed by at least 4 months. Considering the current pandemic situation, NEET PG entrance exam has been postponed and will now be held after August 31, 2021. The move has been made to allow more medical graduates available for COVID-19 duty as the country is fighting the deadly second wave of corona virus.
The Prime Minister reviewed the growing need for medical staff in the nation and discussed the probable measures to effectively augment the need of medical staff for managing the prevailing COVID situation. These are the 6 important measures that shall be taken to overcome the prevailing calamity:
#1. NEET PG 2021 is postponed by at least 4 months. The exam was earlier set to be held on April 18, 2021, but will now be held after August 2021. These students can for now focus on assisting in medical duties.
#2. Medical staff who will complete 100 days of COVID duty shall be given priority in upcoming regular Government recruitment.
#3. Interns, in the filed of medicine, will be deployed in COVID management duties. However, they shall be appointed under the supervision of the faculty.
#4. Final year MBBS students shall be used for tele-consultation and monitoring of mild Covid cases. This shall also be done under the supervision of faculty.
#5. B.Sc./GNM qualified students shall also be employed as full time COVID nursing staff. These students will be working under supervision of Senior Doctors and Nurse.
#6. Lastly, medical personnel who will finish 100 days of COVID duty will be awarded Prime Minister’s Distinguished Covid National Service Samman.
The second wave of COVID has been a terrible eye opener for the entire nations. While the nation is struggling, the demand for medical staff is more than 70% less than the requirement. In the wake of the situation, these measures have been taken.
Apart from these, it has been ensured that NEET PG aspirants will be given at least a month time after the announcement of the exam before it is conducted so that the candidates are mentally prepared to appear for the exam.
Final Year MBBS, PG students, and BSc/GNM Qualified Nurses can be utilized for providing services like tele-consultation and monitoring of mild Covid cases, and Covid nursing duties, etc. More than anybody, doctors have been struggling the most to save the patients as bed capacities are full, oxygen supply is not enough for the number of patients regularly admitting in the hospital. Including these will lessen the burden a little.
However, new medical staff and interns will be deployed under the supervision of dignitary faculty. The new medical staff will be suitably vaccinated and all professionals will be covered under the Insurance Scheme of Government for health workers engaged in fighting Covid 19.
On June 16, 2020, Central Government issued guidelines for engagement of Doctors / Nurses for Covid duties. Apart fro this, a special Rs. 15,000 crore Public Health Emergency Support was provided by the Central Government to ramp up facilities and human resources for Covid management. Engaging personnel through the National Health Mission, an additional 2206 specialists, 4685 medical officers and 25,593 staff nurses were recruited through this process.
