FOGSI seeks rollback of NEET-PG percentile cuts, flags ‘pay-to-enter’ risk | India News
New Delhi: The Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI), representing doctors and academics committed to maintaining high standards in medical education and patient care, has demanded an immediate review and rollback of repeated reductions in NEET-PG qualification percentage.In a statement issued on February 11, FOGSI expressed serious concern that lowering the eligibility threshold in a national merit-based test dilutes merit and compromises academic rigor, raising concerns about the quality of specialist training and patient safety.The organization has requested the National Medical Commission, particularly its Board of Postgraduate Medical Education, to immediately reconsider the policy.FOGSI pointed out that the NEET-PG Information Bulletin has already developed a structured and transparent algorithm for filling up vacant seats with category conversion and sequential counseling rounds. These processes, it said, must be strictly followed and exhausted before reducing eligibility standards.Addressing the issue of vacant seats, the federation said the root cause was not lack of talent but the “highly unreasonable and unaffordable” fee structure in several private and deemed universities. With postgraduate fees ranging from tens of lakhs to several crores, specialist education risks becoming a “pay-to-enter” system where financial capability outweighs competence. “Postgraduate medical education is not just about occupying seats; it is about training skilled specialists who will serve the nation for decades,” the statement said, adding that uncontrolled commercialization as well as declining entry standards threaten academic excellence, professional dignity and public trust.FOGSI urged the authorities to withdraw repeated percentile reductions, ensure strict adherence to counseling and seat-conversion norms, initiate urgent rationalization and regulation of postgraduate fee structure and engage specialized societies and academic stakeholders before implementing policy changes with long-term consequences.The Federation reiterates its commitment to protecting the merit, affordability and integrity of medical education in the greater interest of patients and public health.
