The government doctors’ associations in Tamil Nadu had welcomed the Supreme Court (SC) permission for granting special quota to in-service doctors during post graduate admissions. The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association had filed apetition in the SC in 2018 and had challenged the Medical Council of India (MCI). Welcoming the order, the association has termed it as a historical judgment and stated that it will benefit doctors who are serving in rural areas.

Tamil Nadu government service doctors are given almost 50 per cent reservation to post graduate and super speciality courses bringing in new rules 3 years back. The MCI has allowed the States to grantan incentive of added 10 to 30 per cent marks of their NEET score for every year of their service in government hospitals in distant, rural and hilly areas.

Dr N Gnanapragasam, State President of TN Medical Officers Association, said, while speaking to Express, that it is a historical judgment and more doctors will come forward to join government service. Tamil Nadu government must immediately bring this Act to implement 50 per cent reservation for in-service doctors.

Other government doctors’ associations have also welcomed the order. Dr S Perumal, an office bearer of the Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association said that the government must implement 50 per cent reservation in super-speciality courses from this year as PG degree admissions have ended.

Dr J Kathirvel, Secretary, TN Medical Officers Association also said that to implement State and Union Government health programmes, they need more doctors and the reservation will make sure that there would be no shortage of doctors in the government system. Also, the Doctors Association for Social Equality welcomed the order.

DMK president MK Stalin said that the order was an appropriate lesson for the Union government and the Indian Medical Council that blindly used to interfere with the State’s rights. Former Union health minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss has also welcomed the judgment stating that it could be a milestone in the history of social justice.

Source: The New Indian Express