NEET-PG Cut-off, Merit, and Healthcare: Let's Understand Calmly

There's a big discussion, memes, and accusations on social media regarding the low NEET-PG cut-off, touching upon merit, reservation, future doctors, and patient safety.

Discussion is necessary. But if data is generalized without context, it leads to wrong conclusions in society.

1️⃣ Zero / Negative Percentile, What is the Reality? This situation is primarily seen in pre-clinical and para-clinical branches. Such a situation does not exist in core clinical branches.

Without clearly stating this, saying "future healthcare is in danger" is scientifically incorrect.

2️⃣ Blaming Reservation, It's Not That Simple Reservation is a constitutional social reality. Exam conduct, cut-off policy, and seat-filling decisions are administrative responsibilities.

Placing the burden of a systemic decision on a social policy is neither appropriate nor ethical.

3️⃣ Is Only MBBS a Failure? Absolutely Not Becoming an MBBS in India means, selection from millions of students, difficult training, great struggle.

👉 Ethical MBBS practice itself is a significant and respectable achievement. The idea that everyone must pursue PG is wrong.

4️⃣ But Some Issues Are Truly Serious ✔️ Cut-off means cut-off. ✔️ If not qualified, it's acceptable for seats to remain vacant. ❌ Changing the cut-off after the exam is unfair.

This can make many sincere students feel cheated. Perception is also important.

5️⃣ The Real Question is the Medical Education System • Faculty shortage • Lack of good teachers • Rigid NMC rules • Obstacles for practicing experts to teach • End of honorary consultant culture • Low resident salaries, paid seats, huge fees

I am ready to teach, but the rules become an obstacle.

6️⃣ An Observation (A bit ironic but true) Suddenly, many are concerned about future healthcare, which is good.

But this same concern is rarely seen for violence against doctors, inhumane duty hours, and low salaries of resident doctors.

Healthcare is not just the responsibility of doctors, but also a collective responsibility of society.

Drawing conclusions based on incomplete information and defaming the entire healthcare system is not the solution. Let's improve medical education, give prestige to teaching, and rebuild trust.

This is everyone's job.

Dr Ravindra L Kulkarni, MD, DNB, FSCAI (Cardiology) Just For Hearts