Sr citizens too enter the fray for MBBS seats
State selection committee officials said there are at least 25 people, including professionals such as dentists, nurses, homoeopaths, siddha practitioners, lab technicians, and lawyers, above the age of 35 years competing for the undergraduate medical and dental courses.
The National Medical Commission, the apex body regulating medical education in India, has said there is no bar on age or the number of attempts to appear for the qualifying examination.
Merit in NEET is the sole criterion for admissions to medical or dental colleges across India.
"This year, we see many graduates and professionals aspiring for a medical or dental seat. It's the highest number of middle-age and older applicants we have seen since 2017," said a senior official. They may not have adequate score to compete against younger candidates, but some have secured marks that could secure them a seat under the 69% reservation category and permit them to study medicine at a subsidised cost at a govt college or free of cost at a private college.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Prostate Issues? Age Isn't the Cause — This Habit Might Be
Prostate Health Journal
Click Here
Undo
You Can Also Check:
Chennai AQI
|
Weather in Chennai
|
Bank Holidays in Chennai
|
Public Holidays in Chennai
All three senior citizens applied for admission under a special quota, where 7.5% of seats are reserved for students from govt schools. Under this scheme, students pursue medicine in govt or private colleges free of cost. The govt pays the fees and takes care of the boarding charges. While the govt has not given a ceiling on age or attempts, officials are seeing technical hitches as not all documents match the requirements.
"Most of them have documents that may be equal but don't match requirements mentioned in the prospectus," an official said. "Some people have given pre-university course scores instead of a Class XII mark sheet. In some cases, a Class XII subject is mentioned as natural sciences; instead of biology, botany or zoology. We don't know if we must allow them to appear for counselling, reject their applications or give them time to get equivalence certificates," he added.
Furthermore, the core debate among officials is whether this special quota should extend to all graduates, regardless of age. While officials are discussing this with health secretary P Senthilkumar and consulting legal departments, educationalists and counsellors are raising alarms. "This quota was introduced only because there was no level playing field in NEET. Unlike other students, govt school students cannot afford coaching in private tutorials," said Dr Karthikeyan R, who runs Aatrupadai Foundation, an NGO that offers free NEET coaching.
"Asking them to compete with professionals, who have access to private training institutes, is unfair," he said.
Student counsellors such as Manickavel Arumugam argue that the state cannot give fee subsidies either. "Will a senior citizen be able to complete the strenuous course? Will they be able to work 24-hour shifts during house surgery? " he said. "If people quit the course in between, they must be asked to pay a fine of 10 lakh and the entire non-subsidised course fee," he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
6 foods that help prevent body odour during summer
Image credits: Getty Images With all things good that summer brings with it, one of the most irking and annoying effects it has on the human body is sweating and body odour. While sweat itself is odourless, when the bacteria on the skin mix with it, it creates an odour that is so pungent and unique that it might cause people to stay away from each other and be conscious of how they are smelling all the time. Isn't that why perfume and deodorant brands up their advertising during the season? While picking up the strongest and best-smelling bottle of fragrance might be your idea of getting rid of body odour, there exist easier ways like eating certain foods that can protect your skin from the odour and the harm it may have due to fragrances. Find 6 foods that will prevent body odour during summer. Citrus fruits Image credits: Getty Images Oranges and grapefruits are some citrus fruits rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. They help in the detoxification and smell reduction in the body, thus reducing odorous compounds. Regular intake of these also maintains the flow of fluids from the body, thus keeping it fresh. Green tea Image credits: Getty Images Green tea contains polyphenolic compounds such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) and epicatechin gallate (ECg) which are known to prevent the growth of a wide range of bacterial species. Not only does it control oral odour but it also reduces odour-causing compounds. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like MacBook Air M4- now available at ₹83906* MacBook Air M4 Undo Additionally, it may help block pores, thus reducing sweating and the moisture for the bacteria to thrive. Nuts and seeds Image credits: Getty Images When dealing with body odour in the summer, ensure your zinc intake is regular. Zinc deficiency can elevate body odour, whereas an ample amount of zinc oxide within the body is known to inhibit odour, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine. Include zinc in your daily diet by eating a handful of nuts and seeds every day. Green-leafy vegetables Image credits: Getty Images Leafy greens such as spinach, kale and lettuce are rich in chlorophyll, which naturally reduces the odour-causing compounds in the body. A recent study of people with trimethylaminuria, a condition that causes fishy odour, revealed that regular intake of chlorophyllin improves the body odour of individuals with the condition. Probiotic foods Image credits: Getty Images Fermented and probiotic foods such as yogurt, buttermilk, kimchi and more aid in digestion in the body and improve gut health. They reduce the growth of odour-causing bacteria in the skin, leading to lower body odour. Cardamom Image credits: Getty Images Cardamom is rich in polyphenolic compounds such as quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin and pelargonidin which all have antioxidant properties. It is also able to regulate cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can influence sweating and by managing its levels, the amount of sweat produced can be reduced. Disclaimer : The information provided in this article—including the discussion of foods that may help minimise body odour in summer—is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Relief for patients as pvt hosps withhold suspension of cashless treatment under RGHS
Jaipur: The Rajasthan Alliance of Hospital Associations (RAHA)'s advisory committee, formed for ongoing policy dialogue with the state govt on the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS), withheld the suspension of cashless treatment to RGHS beneficiaries after a meeting with senior health department officials Monday. Earlier, RAHA called for stopping cashless treatment from July 15 under RGHS, protesting non-payment of bills for seven months along with other demands related to RGHS. "We will continue to provide cashless treatment to the RGHS beneficiaries as we were doing earlier. We have taken this decision after cordial discussions with the health department officials today (Monday)," Major General Dr SC Pareek, convenor of the eight-member advisory committee of RAHA, told TOI. He said, "We had some issues related to pending payments, closure of the transaction management system (TMS) of hospitals, and treatment protocols. We also demanded our participation in the formulation of the future standard operating procedures regarding RGHS implementation. They (govt) have agreed to it. It was a cordial discussion for a sustainable solution benefiting patients and hospitals." A senior health department official said, "The meeting was held on a positive note to ensure patients continue getting cashless treatment under the RGHS scheme." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo One of the demands of the RAHA was the unblocking of TMS portals, by immediate reinstatement of TMS access for claims closed on minor technical grounds, allowing hospitals to resubmit or amend such cases. On this demand, the health department assured the RAHA committee to unblock the TMS access, and proceedings will be expedited following due process as mentioned in the scheme guidelines. Regarding the demand for pending bills, the health department said that a major portion of outstanding approved claims was released. RGHS will expedite further payments and try to clear remaining outstanding claims by March 31, 2025, by July 31, 2025. On the demand for timely payment of hospital bills against cashless treatment of patients under RGHS, the health department pointed out that RGHS strives to maintain a 45 to 60-day payment cycle subject to budget constraints, and efforts are being made to align the timeline with the standard settlement process. On the demand for the participation of RAHA in the formulation of SOPs, the health department said that the minimum document protocol (MDP) for various components is in the process of formulation. The various stakeholders, including the advisory committee (RAHA), will be consulted and will try to finalise within three months, adding that RGHS acknowledges the role of consultation and will have regular dialogue with the identified representatives of various stakeholders, including the empanelled private hospitals and pharmacies.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
IMA organizes vaccination campaign for doctors to raise awareness
Kochi: To create awareness about importance of vaccines at a time when there is an increase in communicable diseases, IMA Kochi has decided to hold a vaccination campaign for doctors and their family members. The aim is to spread the message among common people that vaccines are not harmful and can help improve quality of life. "As doctors, we dedicate ourselves to caring for others but often neglect our own health, especially when it comes to preventive measures. Adult vaccination against certain serious infections can be lifesaving," said IMA Kochi president Dr Jacob Abraham. He said communicable diseases are increasing in Kerala because public hygiene is deteriorating due to poor infrastructure development and population density. Vaccines to be provided include shingles vaccine, and influenza, pneumococcal, hepatitis A and HPV vaccines for the age group 9 to 26 years. "More recently, hepatitis A has become a threat due to sewage contamination of public water supply. Though the disease is mild in children, it can occasionally lead to liver failure and death in adults, especially those over 40 years of age. This too is a vaccine-preventable disease," said IMA Kerala research cell convener Dr Rajeev Jayadevan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 99 Tips for Your Retirement Once Your Portfolio Reaches £250,000 Fisher Investments UK Undo "While all of us are aware of the importance of vaccinating children against deadly diseases, we often forget that adults also die from certain vaccine-preventable diseases. Top among these are influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia, against which safe and effective vaccines are available and are universally recommended. This drive will help protect doctors who are at greater risk due to being exposed to infectious agents," added Jayadevan. Abraham said the vaccine drive will help remove apprehensions and scepticism regarding vaccines in the minds of common people. IMA will also hold a vaccination camp on July 27.
