Poor Work-Life Balance, Understaffed Hospitals: NEET PG Aspirants’ Concerns Amid Exam Schedule Uncertainty

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has announced that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Postgraduate (NEET PG) will take place on August 11 in two shifts, following the postponement of the original June 23 schedule due to allegations of irregularities in recent competitive exams. However, the uncertainty surrounding the exam schedule has left many doctors in a state of confusion, making it challenging for them to plan their preparation and personal lives.

Dr. Prashant Kumar Singh, a medical officer from Odisha, expressed concerns about the potential impact of conducting the exam in two shifts on the overall merit list. “If the exam is conducted twice in a single day, the question paper would likely differ, raising questions about how the merit list will be prepared. I hope NBE clarifies these details soon,” he said.

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) chairman, Dr. Rohan Krishnan, criticized the NBEMS for not providing a clear exam schedule, unlike the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). “The condition of NEET PG is sad for students. If UPSC can issue the exam calendar ahead of time and conduct exams for many students in a single day without issues, why can’t NBE do the same? They take hefty amounts for NEET PG while providing poor exam center conditions and numerous complaints about lack of facilities. These things are unfortunate, and they must think about it,” he said.

For MBBS students, completing their postgraduate degree is crucial for securing a well-paying job. Dr. Farah Mumtaz, who is currently pursuing her PG in MS (Obstetrics and Gynecology) at Tagore Medical College and Hospital, emphasized the importance of having a higher degree in the rapidly updating medical field. “There is a significant difference in how society treats an MBBS and an MD or MS graduate. Medical field is updating rapidly, and getting a higher degree becomes more important, especially considering its future impact,” she said.

The value of MBBS graduates has decreased, and patients now prefer specialized doctors. Dr. Utkarsh Gupta, a hospital worker in Uttar Pradesh, believes that students focus more on preparing for NEET PG during their MBBS years, as being an MBBS graduate is no longer enough. “Once a student reaches the second year of MBBS, they focus more on preparing for NEET PG, rather than completing their MBBS, and this is because now being an MBBS graduate is not enough. Also, there aren’t enough government vacancies for MBBS graduates, and the pay structure in private hospitals is not ideal, so students have to upskill themselves by getting a postgraduate degree,” he said.

The limited number of PG and Super Specialty (SS) seats available has led to students spending more time preparing for NEET PG during their MBBS years. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s June 2022 data, the number of PG seats has increased by 93% from 31,185 seats in 2014 to 60,202 seats. However, this does not match the demand, as over two lakh students appear for the NEET PG. Last year, about 247 postgraduate medical seats under the all-India quota remained vacant, and the Health Ministry reduced the cut-off to zero to fill these seats, a move criticized by the medical fraternity.

Many medical graduates struggle to maintain a work-life balance due to understaffed hospitals. Dr. Anand shared his views on the issue, saying that many students find it hard to support their families financially. “In Delhi, there are no permanent jobs in the government sector, and we simply get extensions of six months. Due to this, students move to higher education while continuing to work. Those who work in private hospitals complain that they are underpaid and overworked,” he said.

The situation is more challenging for women, who struggle to balance their domestic life with hospital work and NEET preparation. Dr. Farah Mumtaz shared her personal experience, saying that she had to wake up at 3 am to pump breast milk for her son and reach the hospital by 7:30 am during her internship. “I had a nanny to babysit my baby at the duty doctor’s room in my hospital. This was my routine for four straight months, and I quit only when Covid hit and I couldn’t risk my son’s health. After Covid intensity reduced, I had to rejoin to complete my extension posting,” she said.

Private hospitals also face the issue of extended working hours, with doctors’ working hours depending on their department. Dr. Raghunandan, a private practitioner in Tamil Nadu, said that junior residents in non-academic departments work for 8-10 hours a day, while those in clinical-based departments work for 8-9 hours. “Your working hours depend on your department, for instance, a junior resident in a non-academic department will work for 8-10 hours every day, but people in clinical-based departments work for 8-9 hours. In the Surgery department, you will be called on a case-by-case basis, and the shifts are never just eight hours long,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s latest data, there are 13,08,009 allopathic doctors registered with the state medical councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as of June 2022. The doctor-population ratio in the country is 1:834, which is better than the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard of 1:1000. However, the data provided by the government is contrary to the 2021 WHO report, which mentioned that India was below the 44.5:10,000 ratio till 2018.

Many students are struggling with mental health issues, especially after the Covid pandemic. While other central and state universities are taking steps to address this issue, medical students complain about the lack of support from the government and other stakeholders. Dr. Raghunandan added that mental health services are provided to doctors with the support of state governments and some doctors’ forums. “In the state, medical health insurances are not implemented properly. Governments have their own policies like Provident Funds (PF) but private hospitals fail to implement these,” he said.