25% quota in PG seats for medical officers in Maharashtra who have served in rural areas for 3 years

The decision was taken Wednesday in a joint meeting with Maharashtra Public Health Department and Medical Education department. The meeting was headed by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. “Due to this decision, specialist services will be available to patients in rural and tribal areas in the next 10 years,” tweeted Health Minister Rajesh Tope.

“After completing MBBS degree, candidates who have served three years continuously in government health facilities in rural and tribal areas will be eligible to seek admission under this. After completing PG, these candidates will then have to serve a bond of five years of service in government health facilities,” said an official from the medical education department, adding that the in-service benefits already existed with incentives in terms of marks. Medical officers serving in government health facilities would get a maximum of 30 per cent of incentives in marks in their NEET PG score. The incentives will now be valid only for the seats under the 25 per cent reserved as part of in-service quota.

“The in-service quota existed before 2018. However, after the conversion of PG Diploma courses into MDMS degree course, this reservation was eliminated and only incentives in marks were allowed for PG degree admissions. The decision is a relief for medical officers working in government facilities but straight 25 per cent is on a bit higher side,” said Muzaffar Khan, a medical education counselor. Adding to Sudha Shenoy, a parent: “This further reduces the seats available for open-category students. It is better to allow incentives in marks for their service.”