Following doctor protest, National Medical Commission may reconsider NEET-PG internship cut off date

A senior official from the NMC confirmed that they would not take any step which was detrimental to the future of MBBS students

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After doctors wrote to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare appealing for the extension of the cut-off date to finish MBBS internships, beyond March 31, the National Medical Commission is actively considering the matter.

On January 7, a day after the Post Graduate National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET-PG) date was announced (to be held on March 5), the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association shot the letter. Otherwise, this would render nearly 40,000 to 50,000 MBBS students ineligible for the exams, according to FORDA.

“ “Once they indicate a change we will re-issue the NEET-PG bulletin,” a senior official from the National Board of Examinations (NBE) said.

A senior official from the NMC confirmed, “We will not take any step which is detrimental to the future of the MBBS students.”

Delays caused during the last two years of COVID had caused many MBBS students to finish their year-long internship, which they undertook during their fourth year.

According to data collated by FORDA from 23 States, the internship culmination dates for the MBBS students were varying from April to November 2023.

“In Bihar for instance, the internships will culminate sometime in August. In Chattisgarh, the internships will end only in November. The students started interning late as the entire health system was busy with pandemic damage control. Most of them were asked to report for hospital postings to fulfil workforce shortage during COVID,” said FORDA president Aviral Mathur.

After the NEET-PG dates were announced, MBBS doctors from across India had written to FORDA requesting the postponement of internship date cut-offs and deferring the NEET-PG exams altogether.

“Deferring NEET-PG exams altogether is a double-edged sword. In 2022, NEET-PG was conducted in May, however there was massive chaos that ensued later, and admissions occurred only five months later,” Mr. Mathur added. 

Over a lakh MBBS students were expected to sit for the NEET-PG exams this year.