Maharashtra IMA Requests Government to Delay its Decision to Reserve 20% of PG Medical Seats for In-Service Physicians

New Delhi: The Maharashtra section of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged state medical education minister Girish Mahajan to delay until the upcoming academic year the government declaration on reserving 20% of post-graduate medical school seats for in-service physicians.

According to the administration, the practice will guarantee specialized medical care in rural and tribal public health facilities.

In a letter to the minister, Dr. Subhas Pingale, president of the Maharashtra IMA, pointed out that the counselling process for the seats has already begun and that worthy applicants may lose their seats if the policy is implemented too late.

"The in-service quota can be applied beginning with the next academic year, with prior notification of exam candidates. Dr. Pingale has requested that the complaints be heard and that the school year 2022-23 implementation be halted.

It is important to note that the government decision was passed on September 26, after the registration deadline for all India counselling and Maharashtra state counselling had passed.

"The implementation of the in-service rule has created uncertainties for individuals who were guaranteed a government seat, as they cannot return the deposit for semi-private and deemed colleges or alter the form for the same," IMA office-bearers explained.

"As the round for the all-India quota has concluded, many students who were assured of a good seat through the counselling procedure in Maharashtra did not apply for DNB seats. This late implementation and the sudden introduction of the in-service rule has caused many candidates much doubt and anxiety.”

Many of these candidates now feel confused and concerned due to the in-service rule's abrupt announcement and hurried implementation.”The letter claims that despite a five-month delay in the counselling process, the 20% reserve for in-service candidates was never correctly announced.

Candidates would have acted appropriately if they had been fully informed. The arbitrary and abrupt application of the in-service quota has resulted in many deserving candidates being denied their positions, the letter continued.

According to Dr. Chinmay Akre, “state joint secretary for the Indian Medical Association Junior Doctor Network in Maharashtra, the quota will primarily affect candidates on the borderline for open category seats.”

“Most eligible individuals chose not to move to other states because they believed they would be given seats here based on their exam performance. Without previous notice, this resolution would result in the loss of seats to eligible applicants, which is unfair,” according to Dr. Akre.

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