NMC to reduce workload of resident doctors by lowering NEET PG cut-off

NMC to reduce workload of resident doctors by lowering NEET PG cut-off 

To utilise the workforce efficiently, pre-clinical and para-clinical residents will receive training for OPDs

 Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com 13.01.2025

The medical fraternity is divided over the Union Health Ministry and the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) recent decision to lower the admission cut-off for the NEET-PG 2024 exam. Professionals argue that lowering the cut-off will compromise the quality of medical professionals and will benefit private institutions by allowing them to fill their seats and earn profits by admitting underqualified aspirants. Refuting these claims, the NMC states that the move aims to increase the number of practicing resident doctors and reduce stress caused by excessive workloads. Additionally, it seeks to address the issue of seat wastage in non-clinical medical specialisations such as Pharmacology, Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology. The cut-off for PG medical aspirants has been reduced to the 15 percentile for General and EWS candidates and the 10 percentile for SC, ST, OBC, and PwD candidates. 

Dr B Srinivas, secretary, NMC, says, “Lowering the percentile will not impact the quality of medical professionals, as all candidates are already qualified MBBS doctors with first-hand experience in treating patients. After enrolling in PG courses, these doctors will undergo further training needed in the course. Moreover, every postgraduate student must clear their final exams to earn their PG degree. Those who fail can only continue practicing as MBBS doctors.” 

Sharing the workload 

By lowering the cut-off, the NMC aims to address the issues of burnout in doctors and overworked resident doctors. According to a survey conducted by the NMC’s Mental Health Task Force in 2024, prolonged hospital duties have been a significant risk factor for mental health issues among medical students. Dr Srinivas says, “This step is both patient and resident doctor-friendly, as it will increase the number of resident doctors in all hospital OPDs, where staff shortages often overburden the existing workforce.” Meanwhile, clinical specialisations remain the most preferred choice for NEETPG aspirants, leaving pre-clinical and para-clinical specialisations with vacant seats. Both government and private colleges face significant resource loss due to seat vacancies.

 “The government incurs a setup cost of Rs 1 to Rs 1.5 crore per seat. When these seats remain vacant for all three years, the resources are wasted, benefiting no one. Allowing students with lower scores to fill these seats will reduce wastage helping colleges operate efficiently,” adds Dr Srinivas. Many private colleges reduce fees for non-clinical branches after the first two rounds of MCC counselling, making these courses more affordable, he adds. 

Creating more jobs 

A prominent reason for student disinterest following low enrolment in nonclinical PG courses is the lack of job prospects and financial stability, which has resulted in vacant seats. To counter this, the NMC plans to integrate non-clinical specialisations into roles with clinical exposure, leveraging the existing workforce, as was used during the Covid pandemic. “We are working to involve pre-clinical and para-clinical residents in OPD duties and use their skills in nursing homes, community services, and hospitals. This is a more effective use of manpower compared to many AYUSH doctors working in such roles in allopathic hospitals.

 Pre-clinical and paraclinical students have comparable skills and can be trained for clinical duties, expanding their job opportunities,” says Dr Srinivas. Previously, many NEETPG aspirants had appealed to the NMC to lower the cutoff, enabling them to enrol in non-clinical courses. “MBBS doctors have written letters requesting NMC to absorb them into pre-clinical and para-clinical courses, which will help them save time and further enhance their careers,” adds Dr Srinivas