The National Board of Examination (NBE) NEET-PG bulletin stating that the examination will be held on March 5 and the results released by March 31 has upset the Federation of Doctors’ Association (FORDA). Maintaining that it will make around 50 per cent of the current interns in various States ineligible from taking the NEET-PG tests, FORDA has urged the Union Health Ministry to extend the NEET-PG internship deadline from March to May this year. They said that in actuality around 40,000 to 50,000 students’ futures will be impacted.
“NEET-PG bulletin drops bombshell: internship completion date set for March 31, 2023. >50% of interns ineligible, their career at stake. States altogether aren’t eligible. Will lead to demands of postponement and last minute chaos. Urgent resolution needed,” it tweeted. The doctors’ body has now shot off a letter to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, requesting postponement of this cut-off date, saying interns in states like Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan will be disqualified from appearing in the exam, as they will complete their internships after the cut-off date. “This is especially devastating for interns in States such as Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and many others who have been altogether disqualified as most of the States currently have interns who will attain their completion after the aforementioned date…” said the letter signed by Dr Mathur (FORDA President), Dr Sarvesh Pandey (FORDA General Secretary) and Dr Anuj Aggarwal (FORDA Vice President).