NEET SS exam pattern changes in Medical Oncology and Critical Care Medicine

NEET SS exam pattern changes in Medical Oncology and Critical Care Medicine 

The inclusion of a separate question paper group may help in the reduction of SS seat wastage 

Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com TIMES EDUCATION BANGALORE 21.10.2024 

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) recently amended the exam pattern for admissions to DM/DrNB Medical Oncology and for admissions to DM/DrNB Critical Care Medicine. Medical postgraduates appearing for the NEET Super Speciality (SS) 2025 have opted for broad specialities: General Medicine, Anaesthesiology, Paediatrics, Emergency Medicine and Radiotherapy, will have to attempt a separate question paper group. An official from NMC suggests that steps have been taken to streamline the eligibility criteria for the admission process into the super speciality courses. This pattern has been introduced only for admissions to DM/DrNB Medical Oncology, and for admissions to DM/DrNB Critical Care Medicine.

Dr B Srinivas, secretary, National Medical Commission (NMC) says, “A panel consisting of experts from the related fields, medical institutions and PGMEB members was formed to decide the eligibility criteria for admission into various super speciality courses. After this, the decision was made to bring in these changes. The decision to add a separate question paper group was then informed to NBEMS, which is responsible for conducting the NEET SS exam.” 

Course correction Dr Srinivas says, “Previously, postgraduate students had questions about the limited eligibility for super speciality course admissions. This step has been taken to expand their admission opportunities.”  The students are concerned that changes in the exam pattern increase the hustle for postgraduates. Dr Srinivas says, “There shall be a separate day for the postgraduates to appear for the additional question paper group, meanwhile, the existing question paper group consisting of 150 questions needs to be finished within 150 mins (2 hours and 30 minutes).” There are approximately 6,000 super speciality seats in India, including 4,421 DM and MCh and 1,969 DrNB seats. Around 45,000 candidates pass out every year and around 15,000-17,000 candidates appear in NEET SS annually. As many as 800-1,000 seats remain vacant every year. To reduce such seat wastage, the NMC in 2021 broadened the eligibility options for admission to super speciality courses. 

The introduction of a separate question paper group is one of the similar steps taken by the NMC. Dr Srinivas says, “The step will indirectly help in reducing the seat wastage since it will allow more candidates to take admissions to Oncology and Critical Care Medicine.” Expanding ambit In 2021, NBEMS responded to a petition challenging changes in the exam pattern for NEET SS. An affidavit filed by NBEMS in court mentioned that NEET SS question pattern included 40% of questions from the two opted for super speciality subjects, while 60% were from the general feeder course, which each doctor studies during the normal postgraduation course. Because of that a candidate having pursued a broad speciality, which serves as a feeder for multiple super specialities, was getting restricted to only two super speciality disciplines for admission. Whereas, doctors would be otherwise eligible and available for various other super speciality courses also having pursued the concerned feeder broad speciality.