Reinstating Merit and Competence
By Saquib Jan
Recent changes in reservation policies governing NEET PG counseling in Jammu and Kashmir have led to widespread discontent among aspiring doctors. The drastic reduction of the Open Merit (OM) quota to a mere 26.6% has raised concerns about the equitable distribution of seats in MD/MS courses, especially in specialty branches. There is a growing consensus that reservation policies must be reevaluated. Specialty branches such as Radiology, Medicine, Surgery, ENT, and Ophthalmology, which are already limited in number, demand a high level of competence. These are fields where the quality of training directly impacts healthcare delivery, and thus, merit should take precedence in admissions.
During MBBS, all students, irrespective of their category, study under the same conditions, sharing access to the same faculty, books, libraries, and clinical training. This equal exposure equips all students with the necessary skills and knowledge to compete fairly in specialty exams like NEET PG. Furthermore, after completing MBBS, reserved and unreserved category students work as interns, junior residents, or medical officers, receiving equal pay and benefits.
Introducing an excessive level of reservation in these critical specialty branches risks compromising the quality of healthcare. For example, if admission is not strictly merit-based, it could lead to scenarios where less qualified candidates occupy seats in specialties that demand exceptional competence. This, in turn, can violate the fundamental right to health guaranteed to every citizen by potentially diminishing the quality of healthcare services.
The issuance of SO 176 (March 2024) and SO 305 (May 2024) has significantly curtailed the OM quota in postgraduate medical seats. This year, initially set at 38.5%, the OM quota was further reduced to 26.6% after applying Rule-17 and horizontal reservation cuts. Out of 293 government PG seats, only 78 seats were allotted to pure open merit candidates. This disproportionate allocation has caused frustration among meritorious students who find themselves at a disadvantage despite securing excellent ranks.
For instance, in NEET PG 2024, a candidate with an All India Rank (AIR) in the five digits was allotted MD Radiology in SKIMS, while another candidate with a three-digit AIR was unable to secure a seat in the same branch at SKIMS. Such discrepancies highlight the urgency of reforming seat........
© Kashmir Observer
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