New Delhi: The recent decision by the Medical Council Committee (MCC) to significantly reduce the qualifying percentile for the NEET PG postgraduate medical entrance exam has ignited concerns and outrage among health professionals, students, and educators. The unprecedented reduction to a ‘Zero’ percentile is seen as a move that could have severe repercussions on India’s medical sector, according to experts.
Anuj Goyal, co-founder of Getmyuniversity, expressed his concerns, stating, “The drastic lowering of the NEET PG cut-off has pitted merit against financial means, with financial capacity now taking precedence over merit-based admission criteria. This decision is likely to foster corruption within private medical colleges, as seats may now be allocated based on a student’s ability to pay rather than their academic achievements.”
The primary motivation behind the MCC’s decision appears to be filling the postgraduate seats in private medical colleges, which often remain vacant after the initial admissions process. Anuj Goyal elaborates, “While this decision aims to address the financial losses incurred due to empty seats, the consequences of admitting students with abysmally low scores, even reaching negative figures, are far-reaching. The authorities must consider the potential risks to public health posed by allowing underqualified individuals to enter the medical profession, which demands precision and competence.”
Furthermore, experts argue that this move may lead to an increase in corruption within private medical colleges, as they gain greater control over admissions with a surge in applicants. Dr. RishiRaj Sinha, National Executive Member to FAIMA and former secretary of RDA AIIMS Bhopal, believes that “the new cutoff will enable affluent students to purchase seats at exorbitant prices, bypassing the competitive selection process.”
Critics argue that this decision overlooks the plight of Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), who are denied admission in India and often fail to qualify the rigorous licensing exam. Anuj Goyal highlights that this shift towards non-merit-based admissions can be detrimental to the medical profession, as it values wealth over merit, potentially endangering patient safety.
While the government contends that this is a one-time exception, Anuj Goyal points out that it’s not the first time seats for PG courses in medical colleges have remained unfilled. Instead of repeatedly lowering the cut-off, experts suggest addressing the core issue, such as regulating exorbitant fees in private and deemed universities, which often deter meritorious students from modest backgrounds.
The reduction of the NEET PG cut-off to zero percentile raises serious questions about the standards and integrity of medical education in India, leaving the medical community deeply unsettled about the future of healthcare in the country.
