Appoint NEET PG Aspirants, Trained Nursing Students in COVID Duty in Lieu of Grace Marks: SC

A Supreme Court bench of Justice MR Shah and Justice Chandrachud has suggested to include NEET PG aspirants, trained nursing students in COVID force and to give them grace marks as incentive.

A bench of Justice M R Shah and Justice Chandrachud was hearing Centre’s SLP (Special Leave Petition) against the contempt notice issued by Delhi High Court to the Centre officials as they failed to provide 700MT of oxygen to Delhi as directed by the apex court.

While reviewing the petition, Justice DY Chandrachud said “There is no way today we have the number of health professionals on our medical infrastructure to be able to meet the ongoing second surge and a potential third wave. No country in the world can meet such a demand. And India does not have such a quantum of human resources”, on May 6, 2021.

“There are 1.5 lakh doctors waiting to appear for NEET PG who have completed the medical course and their internship. There are some 2.5 lakh nurses who are now fully trained. They can be involved in the COVID workforce. But if you give them 15,000 to 25,000 rupees, nobody would come. How can you make the COVID service attractive to them? This can bolster your infrastructure for the third surge”, said the bench.

SG Tushar Mehta replied that grace marks in the PG exam could be seen as an encouragement.

SG went on to say that an initiative is already underway to implement this suggestion of using the existing human capital of aspiring doctors and nurses.

“Something is happening in this direction. I have spoken to a high-placed officer in this regard. I will check with the Health Ministry and respond back to the court” found quoting this.

Justice Shah points out that many MBBS degree holders still work as associate professors and other non-medical and administrative positions.

“Let them also be deputed. If students can be deputed in hospitals, they must also be. Right now they are not doing anything and they are sitting at home. All of them are your employees!”, said the judge.

And private physicians, according to the Supreme Court, may be asked to come and provide their services. - “As of now, there is one doctor for 100-150 patients in hospitals. If even 20 per cent (of private doctors) come, that would be enough.

SG Mehta then shared with the bench a note on behalf of the government of India on this aspect:

He mentioned that the NEET PG 2021 exam has been postponed due to the COVID condition, and that the exam will now be held only after August 31, and that all candidates will be given at least one month's notice even after the exam date is announced.
As a result, Mr Mehta stated that the Centre has urged state/UT governments to attempt to contact all NEET applicants and convince them to join the COVID workforce.

“The state/UT governments can utilize even medical interns under the supervision of their faculty by way of an internship. The final year MBBS students can be deployed for providing services like teleconsultation…”. It has been proposed by the Centre.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the facilities of final-year PG students and residents be used before new admissions are available. Similarly, the services of senior residents/registrars can be used before new recruits are found.

“Qualified nurses may be utilized full-time in ICU etc under the supervision of doctors and senior nurses. Final-year nursing students may also be given full-time duties at government or private facilities under supervision… allied healthcare professionals can be appointed for assistance in COVID management depending on their training and certification”. It is proposed.

The states and UTs have been granted the freedom to settle on an appropriate honorarium for distinguished service in terms of reward and acknowledgement. The government's insurance policy for health staff battling COVID would protect all of the health providers involved. Professionals who sign up for at least 100 days of COVID service will also be awarded the Prime Minister's National COVID Samman. States must ensure the medical personnel involved with COVID treatment are properly vaccinated.
Furthermore, it is proclaimed that all institutions—central, federal, and private—should have direct access to these relaxations and benefits, which are intended to supplement human capital during a COVID pandemic.
According to the Centre, cash compensation or remuneration will be open only to people who work for COVID care for at least a hundred days.
The Indian government has also advised states and union territories to consider granting these individuals p in routine government assignments of health professionals if they fulfil a minimum of 100 days of COVID-related service.
The state/UT governments have also been advised to occupy vacant positions of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers as soon as possible, preferably within 45 days, by temporary appointments.

After persuing the note, Justice Chandrachud pointed out “The most important thing is missing here… incentive in the form of grace marks in the NEET PG course. Money won’t help. People won’t stir out in these COVID times otherwise”.

“This suggestion will be conveyed with utmost sincerity and I am sure the government would not object”, assured the SC.

The State governments must also take follow-up action and report to the Central government, according to Justice Shah, and the above agenda must not only be on paper.

Amicus Curiae Jaideep Gupta pointed out a news clipping stating that Himachal Pradesh is offering these medical professionals a monetary reward of Rs 1,500-3,000.

“This is a message on WhatsApp circulation and it is totally wrong. Some senior lawyer sent it to me and immediately corrected that I should not act on it as it is not correct. What I said to him was that this sum of Rs 1,500-3,000 is not an incentive but an insult!’, clarified the SG.

As Mr Gupta insisted that he got this information from a Medanta doctor, the bench remarked that it was obviously false news.