NEET PG 2025: PwD medical aspirants call for inclusive training guidelines, more assessment centres

Medical aspirants under the person with disabilities (PwD) category have urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the health ministry to issue the inclusive guidelines for postgraduate (PG) training of doctors in compliance with the Supreme Court’s (SC) order, before the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG counselling 2025 begins.

SC has previously directed the NMC to revise its existing guidelines governing the eligibility of persons with benchmark disabilities for medical admissions, so that deserving candidates in the PwBD category are not denied admissions despite their entitlement.

In July, NMC released its interim guidelines for admission of PwD in MBBS just two days before the counselling, without issuing guidelines for stakeholder feedback and SOP for PG admission.

Therefore, doctors with disabilities have urged NMC to take immediate action and release inclusive guidelines for postgraduate training in full compliance with the SC order, before the commencement of NEET PG counselling.

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PwD medical aspirants’ demands

According to the Doctors with Disabilities: Agents of Change organisation, the list of demands by doctors with disabilities is as follows.

• Inclusive guidelines/SOPs: For PG training of doctors, the assessment must shift from the numerical percentage-based criteria to a functional competency test as directed by the SC. For instance, in the absence of inclusive guidelines, doctors with dyslexia will be forced to undergo learning disability tests designed for children, as applied by the medical board last year.
• Expand NMC-designated assessment centres: Before NEET PG counselling begins, ensure at least one board in each state and union territory, for doctors with disabilities. The NEET PG 2025 brochure lists only 16 centres across 11 states, which are grossly inadequate.
• Training for medical boards: Aspirants demand the release of the training schedule for 16 medical boards to be conducted by doctors with disabilities before NEET PG counselling, and publish the names of doctors with disabilities appointed as mandated by the SC.
• Constituting Appellate Medical Body: Establishing and notifying the Appellate Medical Body under the aegis of DGHS before NEET PG counselling.
• Guidelines on accommodation: Issuance of comprehensive guidelines on clinical accommodation in compliance with the SC order, similar to other regulatory bodies, so that medical institutions are aware of the scope and legal enforceability of such accommodations.