PMK President Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss has called on the Tamil Nadu government to contest a recent Supreme Court directive that mandates 151 vacant super-speciality medical seats reserved for state doctors to be surrendered to the All India Quota. Dr. Anbumani emphasized the importance of these reserved seats in government medical colleges for maintaining a pool of highly specialized doctors in Tamil Nadu’s public healthcare system.
He highlighted that these reserved seats are crucial for retaining specialist doctors in government hospitals, serving as a key mechanism for the state to ensure access to highly qualified medical professionals. Dr. Anbumani noted that out of Tamil Nadu’s total 670 super-speciality postgraduate medical seats, 415 are in government medical colleges, with 50% of these seats reserved for doctors working in government hospitals.
The PMK President pointed out that the reservation policy plays a vital role in ensuring that government hospitals have skilled specialists capable of delivering advanced medical care. He expressed concern that most super-speciality doctors tend to opt for private sector employment due to better pay and opportunities, underscoring the significance of the reservation system in maintaining quality healthcare in public institutions.
Dr. Anbumani highlighted that the counseling process for the 215 reserved seats began in April, with 100 candidates invited for the first round. While 71 candidates were allocated seats and 68 accepted the offers, the remaining seats faced a potential transfer to the All India Quota following a petition filed in the Supreme Court. He stressed the need for the state government to challenge this decision to prevent a shortage of specialist doctors in Tamil Nadu’s government hospitals.
