VIJAYAWADA: Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences (DNTR-UHS) on Sunday conducted interviews for admission into PG medical seats that remained unfilled during the second counselling.

Nearly 270 in-service doctors, who are working at Primary Health Centres or Government hospitals, sought admission into MD/MS seats.

UHS officials said over 100 seats would still be left unfilled with the candidates not showing interest to join pre-clinical courses (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and biophysics) and also para-clinical courses (pathology, pharmacology, microbiology and forensic medicine). Nearly 210 out of 913 seats remained unfilled after the second counselling. While there were no candidates for 150 seats towards the end of second counselling itself, 60 candidates surrendered their seats just a few weeks after taking allotment letters.

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UHS Vice-Chancellor R. Sambasiva Rao said candidates were not joining courses that do not have demand. Students vie for radiology, general medicine and other clinical courses.

There are only six seats in radiology in the State now. These seats were created at a time when there was no demand at all for radiology.

Dr. Rao told The Hindu that he would meet the Secretary of Health in two or three days and take up the issue of the need for increasing the number of clinical seats. This is aimed at helping aspiring doctors only. In the normal process, the managements of respective medical colleges would have to take it up with the Medical Council of India (MCI). Based on their request, the MCI might consider conversion of non-clinical courses into clinical courses.

In addition to PG seats, there are a good number of diploma medical courses that have become irrelevant now. "There is a possibility to convert these diplomas into clinical seats. This has to be taken up with priority," Dr. Rao added.

While there are nearly 4,000 medical undergraduate seats in the State, the number of PG seats are just around 900. Naturally there would be much demand for PG seats, but during every counselling many seats are left vacant. "Candidates are not taking admission simply because he or she is not offered a course of their choice. This is high time conversion of seats is achieved to enable more candidates enjoy the benefits of medical higher education," Dr. Rao said.

After the court orders, the second and final counselling for PG medical courses in the State was held after the national-level entrance examinations were over. Paradoxically, many seats were left vacant and some even surrendered the seats. In the PG medical entrance test this year, some 1,800 candidates were qualified compared to the availability of 913 seats.

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