Representative image showing a doctor.
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In-service doctors aspiring to pursue postgraduate medical courses in the state this year, are worried of missing the opportunity as the Department of Health and Family Welfare has not yet permitted them to take part in the seat allotment process.
Of the total available seats for the Postgraduate (PG) Medical courses, 30% has been reserved for in-service candidates. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has opened registration and the document verification process is going on.
As there is no confirmation from the Department of Health and Family Welfare for in-service doctors to participate, the KEA has not allowed them in the document verification.
According to the sources from the department, considering the previous instances where a majority of the in-service candidates opted for subjects like dermatology and radiology, which are of not much use at the taluk-level hospitals, the department is yet to permit them to take up the
course.
“We need expert doctors at taluk hospitals mainly for orthopaedics, gynaecology, general medicine, general surgery and pediatrics. Unfortunately, in-service candidates are opting for subjects like dermatology and radiology. Hence, we are still discussing giving No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the current year,” said a source from the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
According to sources, doctors choose dermatology and radiology mainly because they are less stressed at the taluk level and they can easily practice privately during the evening hours.
“Gynaecology and general medicine are 24X7 work. Whenever they get a call from the hospital, even in the wee hours, they must visit the hospital,” added the source.
Though there are seats available for other departments, including ESI, Boards and Corporation, Autonomous and
BBMP in the PG Medical seats, highest are reserved for those from Health and family Welfare.
As per the norms, in-service doctors cannot leave the job for 10 years after they pursue PG course as the government pays their tuition fees and also pays them salary during that period.
Worried about missing the opportunity, the in-service candidates opined that the department can restrict a few subjects. “Many of us want to study courses like general surgery, general medicine and orthopaedics. If we miss this opportunity, we have to wait for one more year and it will be difficult to compete with young doctors to get seats in future,” said an in-service doctor.
Not all seats filled
Looking at the seats filled by in-service candidates in the last three years, it is not even 50%. During 2024, of the total 353 seats available under in-service quota 122 were allotted and 231 were converted into non-in-service quota.