Health Ministry asks Punjab to consider seat-allotment letter to PG medical students equivalent to curfew pass

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, June 11

Seeking the help of the state government in the physical reporting of the doctors who have got admission to the Post Graduate (MD/MS and MDS) medical and dental courses, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has asked the state government to consider the allotment letter issued by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of Director General Health Services (DGHS) equivalent of a curfew pass/E-pass for the movement purpose of the students for reporting at the allotted colleges from June 15.

The MCC has already started the second round of online allotment process of MD/MS and MDS seats of All India Quota (AIQ). The result of this allotment will be declared on June 14 and the candidates who get the seats have to report at the allotted colleges from June 15 to 22.

Under AIQ, the candidates from across the country are allotted the seats in government colleges in different states.

Saying that the joining of these doctors at their medical and dental colleges is essential for maintenance of health care facilities of the medical colleges and hospitals and their services are most sought after at the Covid-19 pandemic juncture, the Ministry has written to the Chief Secretary to consider the physical reporting of these candidates at the allotted colleges as an Essential Service.

Not only the candidates, even the supporting staff, observers and participating institutes and medical colleges should be permitted to travel for preparation and conduct of reporting process from June 15. The secretary of the ministry has asked the state government to convey to district magistrates and local authorities to provide necessary administrative facilitation for conduction of reporting process at the allotted colleges.

 Last week, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) also directed all candidates to report physically for verification of their documents and eligibility. Failing of the physical verification of documents and eligibility, the allotted seat will be treated as cancelled, the university warned the candidates.

 Last month, the BFUHS had taken the online route for document verification for admission to Post Graduate medical and dental courses (MD/MS and MDS) in the state to ensure social distancing and safety of students in view of Covid-19.

The online verification of documents led to a lot of hue and cry when there were doubts about the genuineness of the documents of some candidates.