A group of doctors under the banner ‘Doctors with Disabilities’ has written to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda seeking guidelines on persons with specific disability seeking admission to medical colleges.
The group has urged the Minister to reject the “discriminatory” Medical Council of India guidelines in light of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and to instruct the MCI to reframe the rules as per best practices in other countries and in consultation with differently abled doctors or organisations working for their rights.
Delhi Medical Council Ethics Committee member and disability rights activist Satendra Singh said there are multiple cases in the Supreme Court and the High Courts in connection with denial or cancellation of admissions to MBBS of differently abled students based on MCI guidelines
Stating that differently abled doctors or organisations working for their rights were not included in the process by the MCI, Dr. Singh said, “The MCI guidelines were criticised by many, including top doctors, differently abled doctors as well as doctors from AIIMS, Delhi.”
“These unapproved MCI guidelines also declare ineligible candidates with locomotor disabilities — 80% or higher, or upper limb disability in the non-dominant limb,” noted the letter. “Last year too, the SC directed the government to grant a seat to a student with thalassaemia after she was denied admission. The apex court also ruled that those with colour blindness should not be discouraged from pursuing a career in medicine,” the letter read.
Published - August 17, 2018 01:42 am IST
