Over 50 Postgraduate Medical Seats Vacant in Odisha Following NEET Counselling Completion
In a development highlighting persistent challenges in medical education, 52 out of 615 postgraduate (PG) seats are lying vacant across various medical colleges in Odisha. This vacancy emerged after the conclusion of medical counselling for NEET PG seats, primarily due to a significant shortage of candidates opting for non-clinical subjects compared to their clinical counterparts.
Official Confirmation and National Context
Dr. Jyotish Chandra Choudhury, head of the FMT department at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, who oversees the NEET PG counselling process in the state, confirmed the figures. "Around 52 medical PG seats are vacant in both government and private medical colleges. After counselling concluded, we submitted the vacancy data to the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)," he stated.
This situation in Odisha mirrors a broader national issue. According to a Rajya Sabha reply from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on March 17, a staggering 1,140 PG medical seats remain unfilled across the country after counselling. The ministry noted that the qualifying percentile was reduced this year in an effort to prevent valuable PG seats from going vacant, yet the strategy proved insufficient to fill all positions.
Preference for Clinical Specialties Drives Vacancies
While the official reply did not specify reasons for the vacancies, medical experts point to a clear trend: candidates overwhelmingly prefer clinical subjects. These include high-demand specialties such as:
- Radiology
- Dermatology
- General Medicine
- Paediatrics
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Orthopaedics
- General Surgery
In contrast, non-clinical subjects like anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pathology receive far fewer applications, leading to the current vacancies. A doctor from SCB Medical College and Hospital explained, "Many candidates who secure good ranks in NEET PG actively seek clinical subjects. They believe these fields allow them to contribute significantly to patient treatment and also offer better financial prospects."
Counselling Structure and Authority Responsibilities
The counselling process for NEET PG seats is managed through a structured system. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), operating under the Directorate General of Health Services, handles counselling for 50% of All India Quota seats and 100% of seats in Central and Deemed Universities. Meanwhile, state governments conduct counselling for state quota seats, with state counselling authorities also managing admissions to private medical colleges within their jurisdiction.
This bifurcated system aims to streamline admissions but has not resolved the underlying issue of subject preference imbalance. The persistent vacancy of seats, despite interventions like percentile adjustments, underscores a deeper challenge in aligning candidate aspirations with the full spectrum of medical education needs.
