'NEET-PG Counselling Soon': Health Minister Urges Protesting Doctors To Call Off Strike

In the year 2021, NEET-PG examination was postponed due to Covid-19 after which the counselling and admission process is also being delayed

Doctors At Protest At Safdarjung Hospital, Pic Courtesy: PTI

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday urged protesting resident doctors to call off their strike in the public interest as the stir, led by the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association, entered its 12th day on Tuesday. Resident doctors have been registering their protest for several days over the delay in NEET-PG 2021 counselling.

"I held a meeting with all resident doctors. We're not able to do the counselling because the matter is sub-judice before Supreme Court. The hearing will take place on Jan 6. I hope that NEET PG counselling will start soon," Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya told ANI.

#WATCH| I held a meeting with all resident doctors. We're not able to do the counselling because the matter is sub-judice before Supreme Court. The hearing will take place on Jan 6. I hope that NEET PG counselling will start soon: Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya pic.twitter.com/LixcUWWHcx

— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2021

Resident doctors in Delhi are protesting at Safdarjung Hospital for their demands, causing inconvenience to the patients in three Centre-run facilities -- Safdarjung, RML and Lady Hardinge hospitals and some of the Delhi government-run hospitals.

In the year 2021, NEET-PG examination was postponed due to Covid-19 after which the counselling and admission process is also being delayed.  Due to this, resident doctors have to work extra under stressful conditions as the delay in counselling has resulted in a major staff shortfall.

Over 40,000 doctors who have cleared the exam are unable to get admissions in college. The shortage in staff can prove to be even more dangerous amidst the rising danger of Omicron.

The protesting doctors tried to hold a protest march from Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) to the Supreme Court, which the police tried to stop near the ITO, leading to a face-off in the streets. As per PTI, several persons suffered injury in the ensuing melee.