NEET PG 2021 Counselling: Tamil Nadu resident doctors call for strike, set 3 demands

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors Association (TNRDA) called upon resident doctors across the state to suspend all services from December 11, 2021 to protest the delay in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test postgraduate (NEET PG) counselling 2021.

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The doctors’ body in a letter to the Tamil Nadu health minister put forward three demands. The demands are to apply pressure on the union government to expedite NEET PG 2021 counseling, to conduct TN state Counselling for NEET PG before December 10, 2021 and to recruit additional workforce to all medical college hospitals to support overburdened PGs.

“To mark our protest against these repeated delays and postponements of counselling and after the detailed discussion with the resident doctors association (RDA) representatives, TNRDA calls upon resident doctors across the state to suspend all services from December 11, 2021 if we are not met with the demands,” the letter said.

“The resident doctors have been fighting in the front lines since the Covid-19 pandemic 2019. These overburdened and exhausted residents have been waiting patiently for some positive outcome with regards to delayed NEET PG 2021 Counselling.”

“The Government hospitals have been functioning without an entire batch of doctors. One third of its work force since May 2021, with the remaining doctors working beyond their capacity to provide uninterrupted services to the patient. However, there seems to be no respite to their physical and mental distress, with the next hearing scheduled on November 6,” it added.

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On November 26, the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) called for a nationwide withdrawal of Out Patient Department (OPD) services from November 27, onwards due to repeated delays.

The NEET PG counselling 2021 process which was scheduled to begin on October 25 was put on hold after a section of students moved the Supreme Court challenging the introduction of EWS, OBC reservation.