Premier super speciality seats in T.N. govt. medical colleges face risk of remaining unfilled
Among the 24 vacant super speciality (DM/MCh courses) seats reserved for in-service candidates are in DM Nephrology in Madras Medical College (MMC) and Government Stanley Medical College, and DM Cardiology in MMC.
On July 28, State Health Minister Ma. Subramanian wrote to the Union Health Minister urging him to permit the Tamil Nadu government to conduct an extended stray round of counselling for in-service candidates to fill the 24 vacant seats.
According to a list readied by doctors, one DM Medical Gastroenterology seat, two DM Nephrology seats, and one DM Cardiology seat were vacant at MMC, while one DM Nephrology seat was vacant at Stanley Medical College. Additionally, five DM Neurology seats were vacant at the government medical colleges in Kanyakumari and Thoothukudi.
The Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors Association on Thursday submitted a memorandum to health officials seeking immediate intervention to fill the 24 vacant seats in DM/MCh courses in prestigious institutions.
The doctors said that the third round of NEET-Super Speciality State counselling was conducted with zero percentile cut-off. Yet, after the third round, 24 seats were vacant.
Additional counselling
They urged officials to conduct the further round of counselling for in-service candidates at the earliest, and to revert the unfilled seats to All India Quota for further counselling to fill the vacant seat positions.
'DM Nephrology seats at MMC and Stanley medical college are usually taken by candidates who top the list. These seats have never been vacant after the first round. But remain unfilled so far this year,' an aspirant said. A doctor said that such seats falling vacant is concerning, especially when there is a high demand for nephrologists.
Noting that it would be a significant loss if the seats remain vacant, G.R. Ravindranath, general secretary, Doctors' Association for Social Equality, said the Union government must urgently grant permission to the State government to conduct another round of counselling.
'As was previously the case, Tamil Nadu should be permitted to conduct its own entrance examination for admissions to super specialty medical courses under the State quota,' he added.
If another round of counselling is not permitted, it is not only a loss of seats, but also a loss of trained and qualified human resources for tertiary care in medical services, a government doctor said.
'Ideally, DGHS should conduct two rounds of counselling first, and submit the remaining seats to States to fill the seats themselves. This is more practical and is followed in UG and PG courses. The State conducting the counselling first, and surrendering seats to DGHS makes the counselling more complicated due to sudden reduction of eligibility to zero percentile,' he added.
Domicile factor
A doctor said that a clause could be added, allowing candidates domiciled in Tamil Nadu to take up seats left behind after the counselling for service candidates, and they could be mandated to serve the government health sector.
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