NEET PG Counselling 2021: Doctors to boycott emergency services in protest over delay

NEW DELHI: After getting no response from the stakeholders regarding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)-PG counselling 2021, the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) has announced that now they will withdraw from all services including emergency in medical institutions from Monday, December 6 onwards.

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“Letter of Intimation to mansukhmandviya Sir regarding “Withdrawal from all Services” by #ResidentDoctors in healthcare institutions, #Monday (6/12/2021) onwards,” FORDA said in a tweet.

Letter of Intimation to Hon’ble @mansukhmandviya Sir regarding “Withdrawal from all Services” by #ResidentDoctors in healthcare institutions, #Monday (6/12/2021) onwards @PMOIndia @Drvirendrakum13 @MoHFW_INDIA @MSJEGOI @LiveLawIndia @ANI @ndtv @NewIndianXpress @MirrorNow @ZeeNews pic.twitter.com/hyqbXwakIv

— FORDA INDIA (@FordaIndia) December 4, 2021

“There seems to be no initiative or measure taken by the concerned authorities yet, for expediting the counselling. Therefore, following discussion with various RDA Representatives of Delhi, we have decided to escalate our agitation further and withdraw from all services (Routines as well as emergency) in healthcare institutions, Monday onwards,” FORDA said.

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The onus of any such unfortunate situation affecting healthcare services will be on the authorities concerned," it said.

Medical institutions are running short of resident doctors with no admission in the current year yet, and with the possibility of an imminent Covid wave, the counselling process must be started at the earliest to prevent the collapse of the healthcare system, FORDA said.

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The resident doctors are exhausted and overburdened and thus began the strike against delay in NEET PG counselling and admission process from November 27 onwards by withdrawing from Out-Patient Department (OPD) services.

As the withdrawal of OPD services didn't bring any concrete response from the authorities, the RDA decided to withdraw all routine services from December 3 in support of the nationwide protest called by FORDA.

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The RDA at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital had warned the administration that its members will withdraw from emergency services too if no concrete step is taken by the stakeholders to ensure immediate completion of NEET PG counselling.

Centre has told the Supreme Court that it has decided to review Rs 8 lakh criteria for determining Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category in NEET All India Quota (AIQ) and will come up with a fresh decision within four weeks, as per reports.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured that NEET PG counselling 2021 remains deferred till then.