Amidst the recent NEET paper leak controversy, which has cast a shadow on the quality and management of medical education in India, Union Health Minister JP Nadda defended the examination system, saying the medical education had become an open business before the NEET was introduced and PG seats were sold for `8 crore-`13 crore each.
Addressing concerns during a discussion on a private member resolution by DMK Rajya Sabha member M Mohmed Abdulla, Nadda emphasised that the introduction of NEET was a necessary reform to combat rampant corruption in medical education. The Minister said corruption was rife in medical education before the NEET was brought in during his first stint as Health Minister.
He asserted that before NEET, the medical education sector was plagued by severe malpractices, including the sale of postgraduate seats for exorbitant amounts ranging from Rs 8 crore to Rs 13 crore.
“Medical education had become the den of a business. When I was health minister and was bringing NEET, one seat of post graduation was sold for Rs 8 crore each and if you had to opt for a discipline like radiology then it was Rs 12-13 crore,” Nadda said.
He said that before the NEET came in, students had to travel across the country for medical exams. The minister said that beside the money and time spent, the students also had to deal with huge corruption in the medical education system.
“The admission list used to be put up for 30-45 minutes and afterwards it used to be said students did not come, therefore, we are using these seats at our discretion. It had become a business. There was a vested interest. The matter was pending before the Supreme Court for a long time,” Nadda said.
“Today, thanks to NEET, exams are conducted at numerous centres. There has been a 65 percent increase in the number of students from social categories who secure seats through NEET. The exam is now available in 13 languages, and students from government schools have also benefited. This year, there are 17 perfect scorers in NEET from various states, including Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.”
During the Session, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha in Rajya Sabha joined the ongoing ‘NEET issue,’ criticising ‘corruption in exams’ that aim to produce doctors. He warned that such corruption could lead to the emergence of ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’-type doctors. At the same time, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas said, “Parliamentarians need to collaborate on this matter, as it directly impacts the young minds and their future.”
