For the first time, students from other states can now take admission in MBBS and Post-Graduation (MD/MS) in colleges in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier all MBBS and post-graduation seats were reserved for the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
After the abrogation of article 370, all central laws have come into force in J&K. This year the Jammu and Kashmir Board of a professional Entrance Examination announced that it will share 15% of its MBBS seats in the All India Quotes and 50% for PG medical courses.
Now students from any state can do MBBS in J&K
Now any students from any part of the country appearing in the merit list can do MBBS or post-graduation in J&K. Earlier it was not possible. But on the other hand the students and doctors of this policy criticism too. Those who say that this move will reduce the medical seats for the local people here. The students said that the government was doing injustice to them. A student said this would have a negative impact on him and reduce his chance of qualifying MBBS. We cannot compete with students who have great facilities in big cities. Doctors say that the biggest impact will be on doctors seeking admission in post graduate courses.
Dr. Nisar Ul Hasan, President of the Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK), says that contributing to the medical seats in the All India Quota will close job avenues for the local people. Unemployment among doctors will increase in Jammu and Kashmir. Dr. Arshad Ali said that the non-local doctors are expected to go back to their native places after completing their respective courses, which will result in a large vacuum in the health system of the region. The health care system in J&K will be impacted due to pooling. Doctors said that most of our patients here are local. They usually converse with the doctors in the local language. A doctor said, there will be a communication gap with the outside doctors.
Doctors say that the decision should be postponed till we have enough seats. New medical colleges cannot start post graduate courses until the first batch of MBBS completes its course. So till that time the government should wait. A doctor said that Jammu and Kashmir is a state which is already suffering from shortage of doctors and this new move of the central government is likely to affect the health services even more adversely.
