More seats for disabled people in PG medical courses

Acid attack victims now stand a better chance of becoming specialist doctors with the Centre expanding the disability quota for admission in post graduatemedical courses.

The percentage of seats to be filled by persons with disabilities has been increased from 3 to 5% in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.

People with 21 types of disabilities are eligible to take advantage of the quota.

While 20 out of the 21 types of disabilities are some type of disease, acid attack victims are also considered as disabled under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, that was followed while amending the regulations.

Some of the other common disabilities covered under the new rule are blindness, low-vision, leprosy cured persons, thalassemia patients and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

"After 20 years the government has taken a historic decision for welfare of divyang (disable) sisters and brothers in line with the Prime Minister's vision of sabka saath, sabka vikaas. Now all 21 benchmark disabilities as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 can register for admission to medical courses," said Health Minister J P Nadda.

India currently has a huge shortage of specialist doctors.

Heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (lung diseases), brain stroke, diarrhoea, chronic kidney disease, tuberculosis, neo-natal pre-term birth and accidents are among the leading causes of death, most of which can't be cured by an ordinary MBBS graduate, some of India's top doctors informed a panel of lawmakers a  few months ago.