Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 10: The doctors from SKIMS Medical College Bemina on Tuesday staged a protest against the reduction in the Open Merit (OM) quota in NEET PG admissions in Jammu and Kashmir.
Doctors expressed their concern over the drastic reduction in open merit seats for postgraduate medical courses.
The allocation has dropped from 75% in 2019 to just 38.5% in 2024, leaving limited opportunities for merit-based candidates after 50% of the seats are allocated to the All-India Quota.
They questioned the rationale behind extensive reservations, especially in specialized branches, arguing that it compromises the production of skilled doctors and undermines healthcare quality. “All students access the same resources during MBBS. Why should extensive reservations apply to NEET PG specialty courses?” one of the protesting doctors asked.
The protesters criticized Rule 17 of the J&K Reservation Rules (2004-2005), describing it as unfair to open merit candidates. They pointed out that when a reserved category candidate upgrades to a higher specialty, the vacated seat is reassigned to another reserved candidate rather than to an open merit candidate. This, they argue, disproportionately benefits reserved candidates.
The doctors warned that the reservation system is already harming healthcare standards, with less qualified individuals securing seats and promotions. They emphasized the need to prioritize merit to ensure a competent healthcare workforce.
Medical professionals have voiced concerns over the impact of reservation-based selections on the quality of healthcare and the reputation of medical institutions. They emphasized that healthcare should remain uncompromised, urging that leadership roles in the sector should be occupied by competent doctors selected on merit.
The doctors highlighted the issue of candidates, who secure undergraduate medical seats through reservation but fail to qualify for postgraduate seats on open merit. They suggested that such candidates should be required to serve as medical officers in underserved areas, utilizing their reservation benefits for the greater good.
Calling for a review of the reservation policy, the professionals stressed that only truly deserving candidates should benefit from these schemes. They appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Health Minister Sakina Itoo to address their grievances promptly and implement reforms to ensure fairness and uphold meritocracy in medical admissions.
The protesters warned that the healthcare system could face further deterioration if immediate action is not taken, framing their demands as essential for the betterment of the health sector and medical education.
