In a respite for doctors with locomotor disability, aspiring to pursue postgraduate degree courses, Medical Council of India (MCI) has amended an existing rule that rendered these doctors ineligible, despite having qualified National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
As a norm, MD/MS and medical PG diploma aspirants with locomotor disability greater than 90 percent were technically barred from pursuing these courses as the assessment board measured their “functional competence” without assistive devices, such as crutches.
This practice not only subjected the aspirants to “physical and mental trauma” but also ensured that they were out of the competition for seats. But the amended notification stated that those who were earlier declared ineligible due to disability level being assessed as more than 90% will have to appear for a reassessment at one of the four designated centers across India.
There have been a number of complaints to the medical education regulatory body regarding the discriminatory requirement that “mocks at the physical disability” of a doctor. A senior doctor working in a private hospital in Srinagar said that the doctors who qualify NEET have demonstrated their mental acumen but when a rule demands that they walk without crutches in spite of having polio affected legs, it is gross injustice”.
The counseling for MD/MS in J&K is yet to start and the aspirants are currently in the process of registering for the seats.
Blurb:
As a norm, MD/MS and medical PG diploma aspirants with locomotor disability greater than 90 percent were technically barred from pursuing these courses as the assessment board measured their “functional competence” without assistive devices such as crutches