Supreme court Justice Chandrachud has pointed out that to tap the MBBS degree holders and to deploy them in the COVID-19 services money as an incentive is not a good enough option. The most important thing for the MBBS degree holders waiting for their NEET PG 2021 entrance exam is will be grace marks in the NEET PG course, rather than money.
Justice D. Y. Chandrachud quoted “There are 1.5 lakh doctors waiting to appear in the NEET who have completed the medical course and their internship. There are some 2.5 lakh nurses who are now fully trained. They can be involved in the COVID workforce. But if you give them 15-25,000 rupees, nobody would come. How can you make Covid service attractive to them? This can bolster your infrastructure for the third surge.”
Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, has assured that the suggestion of incentive in form of grace marks rather than money will be conveyed to the Government and he is sure that it will not be opposed.
Justice M.R. Shah added that many MBBS degree holders are performing non-medical and administrative duties as associate professors. He has suggested to depute them too on Covid duty. He also added that if students can be deputed in hospitals, then that should be done too.
The Supreme court in turn has also asked the Centre to explain its plan to achieve the requisite oxygen supply
SG, Tushar Mehta has also verified that some messages are circulating on WhatsApp about the incentives to be paid for the medical services by the medical aspirants, nurses, doctors, etc., which is Rs. 1500-Rs. 3000. He said that this is fake news. He added that an incentive of Rs. 1500-Rs. 3000 is an insult.
On May 3, 2021, the PM authorised keys decisions to boost availability of medical personnel to fight COVID-19. This included medical Interns to be deployed in Covid Management duties under the supervision of their faculty, the final Year MBBS students can be utilized for teleconsultation and monitoring of mild Covid cases under the supervision of the Faculty, and B.Sc./GNM Qualified Nurses to be utilized in full-time Covid nursing duties under the supervision of Senior Doctors and Nurses.
All such individuals who complete 100 days of service in COVID-19 duty will be given priority in forthcoming regular Government recruitment. And, all such professionals who sign up for a minimum of 100 days of COVID duty and complete it successfully will also be given Prime Minister’s Distinguished Covid National Service Samman from the Government of India.
NEET PG 2021 exam has been postponed till at least August 31, 201. The new exam date will be announced at least 1 month before the exam.