NEET – THE NEED OF THE HOUR

                 On 18th July, 2013, a bench headed by the then Chief Justice Altamas Kabir quashed 2 MCI notifications & held National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) to be unconstitutional . In a split 2:1 verdict, the said judgement deemed that conducting a common entrance test for admission into medical college was not within the ambit of Medical Council of India (MCI). On reading the parts of the judgement authored by Justice Kabir & Justice Sen, we see that the mention about various malpractices in entrance examination is almost insignificant. In contrast, Justice Kabir mentions about the need for ‘barefoot doctors’. The following is an extract from Justice Kabir’s judgement:-
              “The desire to give due recognition to merit is laudable, but the pragmatic realities on the ground relating to health care, especially in the rural and tribal areas where a large section of the Indian population resides, have also to be kept in mind when policy decisions are taken in matters such as this. While the country certainly needs brilliant doctors and surgeons and specialists and other connected with health care, who are equal to any in other parts of the world, considering ground realities, the country also has need for "barefoot doctors", who are committed and are available to provide medical services and health care facilities in different areas as part of their mission in becoming doctors.”               
             As a student, I fail to understand as to how introduction of NEET would’ve compromised with ‘committed doctors’. In fact, such an exam would’ve raised the standard of students who enter this noble profession. It is painful to see how medical education has undergone commodification. On 30th January, 2016, Times of India (TOI) reported about how an undercover 12K crore industry thrives in India which guarantees you a ‘confirm seat in MBBS’. For anyone related to medical profession, it shouldn’t come as a surprise because it is an open secret that MBBS, as well as PG seats are sold in certain medical colleges. According to MCI website, total MBBS seats in India are 52,715 & around 10 lakh students appeared for the only NEET examination held in the year 2013. This 52,715 figure also includes the private medical colleges, whose fees, only blessed souls can afford. I am sure that in a nation with 125 crore population, the number of doctors produced per year are anything but adequate. Lack of medical infrastructure in the country is leading to commercialisation & commodification of the existing medical education. A lot can be said to justify this commercialization because ultimately it’s the lack of resources which forces someone to indulge into such practices & not an inherent ulterior motive. Ultimately, as students, the only motive is to become a doctor & not to corrupt the system.           
              But I sincerely believe that NEET was a step in right direction. It would’ve curtailed the arbitrariness in admissions. The quality of students entering this profession would’ve certainly been raised. And above all, it would’ve ensured that only merit remains the sole objective criteria in admissions.                    
               Finally, the good news is that on 11th April, 2016, the Hon. Supreme Court has recalled its 2013 NEET decision. It is again going to hear all the petitions afresh. The 5-judge constitutional bench is headed by Justice Dave (the only dissenting judge in 2013 judgement). This certainly raises our hope that finally NEET will see the light of the day. As students, our only wish is that meritocracy should prevail. A noble profession like medicine can’t & should not become a purchasable commodity.