Indian Medical Association’s Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN) recently urged Union Health Minister JP Nadda to lower the cutoff for NEET-PG 2024 in a formal letter.
This request follows the conclusion of the second round of NEET-PG counselling. According to data from the National Medical Commission (NMC), 31,490 candidates were deemed eligible for admission after NEET Postgraduate (PG) round 2 counselling 2024, leaving approximately 15,000 to 16,000 seats vacant. Of these, 1,500 seats are in Maharashtra.
A TNN report suggests that in the 2022-23 academic year, 4,400 NEET PG seats remained vacant, marking a 17.5% increase compared to the previous year, when 3,744 seats were unfilled. Additionally, 860 MBBS seats remained vacant over the past three years. Notably, there has been a significant rise in the number of medical seats. According to data shared by Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, there were 83,275 MBBS seats in 2020-21, which increased to 107,948 seats in the 2023-24 academic year.
NEET 2023: Cutoff dropped to zero to fill vacant seats
The NEET PG 2023 cutoff was reduced to zero, allowing candidates who scored as low as minus 40 to be eligible for postgraduate medical programmes. This unprecedented decision, announced suddenly by the Directorate General of Health Services, had sparked widespread. Critics argued that the move undermines the merit-based system, as candidates with very low scores can now secure PG seats, displacing those who narrowly missed out. Many educationists and parent groups had expressed concern, questioning the fairness of the exam. However, private and deemed universities had welcomed the change, anticipating a larger pool of candidates for NRI seats. While some believed that this could help fill vacant non-clinical seats, others observed that it might compromise the quality of medical professionals entering the system.
Why are our medical graduates shying away from PG courses?
Postgraduate (PG) medical education in India has undergone significant growth in recent years. India has witnessed an impressive 127% surge in PG medical seats over the past decade, growing from 31,185 in 2014 to 70,645 in the 2023-24 academic year, according to a KPMG-FICCI study titled Strengthening Post Graduate Medical Education in India. Despite the expansion, the issue of vacant NEET PG seats remains a major concern. While there has been a substantial increase in the number of PG seats, this growth has not always aligned with demand, leading to a considerable number of unfilled positions, particularly in certain specialties. This gap between seat availability and candidate preferences reveals systemic challenges in India’s medical education landscape.Let’s find out the challenges.
Faculty Shortages and Limited Training Capacity
Inadequate faculty and the shortage of experienced trainers in certain key specialties, particularly in government-run institutions, hinder the effective utilization of PG medical seats. Specialties like cardiology and medicine are notably affected, as many qualified professionals prefer private practice where earnings are higher, rather than teaching in medical institutions. This shortage of faculty impacts the capacity of institutions to provide quality education and training, resulting in unfilled seats in these critical areas.
Lack of Appeal for Certain Specialties
A significant reason behind the vacancies is the lack of incentives for less sought-after specialties in medical education. Fields such as family medicine, community medicine, and preventive care, which are essential for enhancing primary healthcare, often fail to attract sufficient candidates. Many medical students are deterred from pursuing these specialties due to the perception of lower career growth and earning potential when compared to more lucrative and popular fields like orthopaedics and cardiology. This mismatch between the country’s healthcare requirements and the preferences of PG aspirants leads to vacancies in areas that are crucial for addressing the nation’s healthcare needs.
Mismatch Between Specialties and Healthcare Needs
One of the primary reasons for unfilled NEET PG seats is the growing preference for prestigious and high-paying specialties like radiology, orthopaedics, and dermatology. These fields are perceived as offering better career prospects, work-life balance, and financial rewards. In contrast, specialties critical to India’s healthcare system, such as family medicine, community health, and preventive care, struggle to attract students. These specialties, which are essential for strengthening primary healthcare, face a persistent lack of interest, leading to vacant seats that are crucial for addressing the country’s healthcare challenges.
Brain Drain and Migration
The issue of vacant PG seats is further compounded by the phenomenon of brain drain. A substantial number of Indian medical graduates choose to pursue their postgraduate education abroad in countries like the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. These countries offer better career opportunities, higher pay, and improved living standards, which makes them an attractive option for many graduates. This migration exacerbates the shortage of specialists within India, particularly in rural and underserved regions, leaving many PG seats vacant.
Geographic Disparities in Seat Distribution
Another factor contributing to vacant seats is the geographic disparity in the distribution of PG seats. States like Maharashtra and Karnataka have a higher concentration of medical colleges and PG seats, while northeastern states and rural areas remain severely underserved, finds the KPMG-FICCI study. This imbalance limits access to PG education for students from less developed regions and results in unfilled positions, especially in remote parts of the country. Addressing this disparity is crucial to ensuring more equitable access to medical education.
Faculty Shortages and Infrastructure Issues
Vacant PG seats are also a result of faculty shortages and insufficient infrastructure in many medical institutions. Some newly established colleges, in particular, suffer from a lack of qualified faculty and the necessary clinical facilities to offer quality training. As a result, students are deterred from choosing PG courses in institutions that cannot provide adequate mentorship or hands-on experience, leaving many seats unfilled.
Exorbitant Fees in Private Medical Colleges
Another significant factor is the high cost of tuition fees in some private medical colleges. These institutions charge excessively, making it financially challenging for many students to pursue postgraduate courses. As a result, even when seats are available, they remain unfilled due to affordability concerns.
Preference for Clinical Courses Over Pre- and Para-Clinical Courses
A major reason for vacant NEET PG seats is the lack of interest in pre- and para-clinical courses. Students predominantly prefer clinical courses such as general medicine, surgery, and paediatrics, which offer greater opportunities for hands-on patient care and professional growth. Courses like Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology, and Pharmacology are often overlooked due to their limited scope for clinical practice and fewer career prospects.
Saturation in the Job Market
The job market for para-clinical specializations is already saturated, further discouraging students from choosing these fields. With fewer employment opportunities and limited possibilities of direct clinical practice, students tend to avoid these courses in favor of clinical subjects that promise better career stability.
