Set up fast-track court to expedite NEET-PG 2021 counselling: IMA

New Delhi, Dec. 21: The IMA Junior Doctors’ Network has written to Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya demanding fasttracking of the court hearing to expedite NEET-PG 2021 counselling while extending solidarity with resident doctors protesting outside Nirman Bhawan for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

Resident doctors of various hospitals in Delhi protested in front of the Nirman Bhawan over the delay in NEET-PG 2021 counselling, affecting patient care services at the three Centre-run and some of the Delhi governmentrun hospitals as part of the nationwide agitation called by the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA).

“In the face of the imminent third wave of Covid-19 and one-third of the remaining resident workforce, we have been left with no choice but to intensify the ongoing strike to push further our demands. We stand in solidarity and participate with resident doctors all over the country who are protesting against the delay in NEET-PG counselling, including withdrawal from all services, and protesting today (December 20, 2021) at Nirman Bhawan,” the IMA Junior Doctors’ Network said in the letter written on Monday.

“For the due optimisation of lives of the patients, the overburdened junior residents and around 50,000 doctors, who’ve been waiting to be deployed in their earned PG seats amid repeated deferment and hazy policies, we demand the fast tracking of court hearing to necessarily expedite NEET-PG counselling,” it stated.

The protesting doctors carried banners and posters, held demonstrations, and raised slogans seeking redressal of the issue.

Police security has been stepped up in the street in front of Nirman Bhawan.

Members of RDAs of all major hospitals of Delhi under the banner of FORDA marched and demonstrated in front of Nirman Bhawan as part of the ongoing agitation to expedite NEET-PG counselling 2021 on Monday also, FORDA president Dr Manish said.

Subsequently, there was a meeting of FORDA and RDA representatives with the Union health minister at Nirman Bhawan, he said.

By evening, protesters returned as they were not prepared to camp in the streets and returned on Tuesday morning.