Expert panel urges overhaul of NEET-PG merit criteria and fee structure

A government-constituted expert committee has proposed sweeping reforms to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) medical programs, seeking to align merit considerations with financial accessibility. The panel's recommendations target the allocation of postgraduate seats, suggesting a rank-based merit framework that would restructure how candidates are selected for available positions across medical colleges.

The proposed changes extend beyond seat allocation to address financial barriers in medical education. The committee has recommended reduced fee structures for non-clinical postgraduate courses, recognizing the different resource requirements and earning potential of these specialties compared to clinical disciplines. This move is expected to make postgraduate medical education more accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds.

Additionally, the expert panel has proposed revised stipend structures for resident doctors and has suggested introducing incentive schemes to encourage medical professionals to serve in underserved rural areas. These measures aim to address the persistent shortage of healthcare professionals in remote regions while improving the financial stability of resident doctors during their training period.

The recommendations represent an attempt to balance multiple policy objectives: ensuring merit-based selection, improving access to postgraduate medical education, and addressing healthcare inequities through geographic distribution of trained medical professionals across the country.