Doctors dismayed at full reservation for Maharashtrians in specialised courses
May 31, 2010: The Hindu
Domiciles alone to avail of seats in hospitals run by Maharashtra Government
“84 seats wiped out for doctors from other States competing to get through the courses¶
NEW DELHI: Alarmed over the decision of the Maharashtra Government to reserve all seats in super-speciality medical courses in government-run and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation-run medical colleges as well as Bombay Hospital for students domiciled in Maharashtra, doctors across the country competing for the few super-speciality seats available in the country have expressed their disbelief at this latest proposal.
“With just a few days left for the examinations we are surprised at how the Maharashtra Government has come up with such a move that will adversely affect the careers of several doctors across the country. We want to register our strong protest. The State offers 18 super-speciality courses, including cardiology, nephrology and urology and proposes to take in students through an entrance test but will now allow only domiciles to take the exam. We fail to understand the rational behind the move and demand that all doctors be allowed to compete for these examinations,” said GTB Hospital surgeon Harish Reheja who was planning to take the exam.
Stating that doctors have been preparing for these examinations for nearly a year and the move would further limit the number of seats available, he added: “The number of super-speciality seats available are very few and we have been preparing for the examination for nearly a year now. The announcement by the Maharashtra Government has come like a bolt from the blue. We are shocked by the fact that they have in one move wiped out nearly 84 seats for doctors from other parts of the country. The Maharashtra Government has stated that it isn’t the only State in the country to make this rule. However, the Government should have given us more time before making such an announcement.”
Doctors at the Delhi Medical Association though concerned about the move stated that since health was a State subject, there is not much they could say on the matter. “Of course, doctors preparing for the examination will be disappointed but there is the very little that we can do about it. The rational behind the move is aimed at benefitting the local doctors who the State Government hopes will stay back and work for the people of the State. Maharashtra isn’t the first State to bring in such a clause, it is unfortunate but there isn’t much that can be done. The Central Government should look at increasing the number of seats available for super-speciality courses and ensure that doctors stay in the country to work for its public,” said DMA member Anil Bansal.
