Will TN Get Centre’s Approval to Fill 24 Vacant Super-Speciality Seats?

Chennai, July 30 (NationPress) Tamil Nadu's Health Minister Ma Subramanian has formally requested Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda to allow the state to organize an additional round of counselling aimed at filling 24 vacant super-speciality seats in government medical colleges.

These seats are designated for in-service candidates, as stipulated by the Supreme Court.

In a communication addressed to the Union Health Ministry, Ma Subramanian pointed out that half of the super-speciality seats available in government medical colleges are allocated for in-service candidates, providing opportunities for doctors already engaged in the public health sector.

Nevertheless, 24 seats have gone unfilled after the recent counselling sessions concluded. The minister attributed these vacancies to recent modifications in the counselling guidelines.

He mentioned that the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) released a notification on June 21, which permitted upgrades during the final counselling round. This alteration, according to the minister, led to some seats being left vacant once the last round was completed.

“The State Selection Committee has received numerous appeals from in-service candidates requesting another chance to compete for these positions. If an additional counselling round is held, we believe these vacancies can be filled,” Ma Subramanian expressed in his letter.

The minister also urged the Union Health Ministry to grant permission for Tamil Nadu to conduct this additional counselling round before August 5.

He stressed that addressing these vacancies would bolster the state’s healthcare system, as super-speciality doctors trained through this initiative would continue to serve in government hospitals throughout Tamil Nadu.

A press release from the Health Department emphasized that the extra counselling round would specifically target the vacancies reserved for in-service candidates, ensuring that no seat remains unutilized.

It also highlighted that such actions would align with the Supreme Court’s intention behind the 50 percent reservation for in-service candidates in super-speciality programs.

Officials from the health department indicated that a swift response from the Union Health Ministry is essential, as the current academic year’s counselling schedule is approaching its conclusion. They warned that any delays could lead to these crucial seats remaining unfilled, thereby denying deserving in-service candidates access to advanced training opportunities.