Source: Time Of India | Image Courtesy: businessinsider
One of the toughest and most respected professions today is that of a doctor. We depend heavily on doctors to keep us safe and healthy. This trust comes from the knowledge we are sure they possess. After clearing the gruelling pre-medical entrance exam, undergraduates go through four strenuous years of extensive learning and practice. Most MBBS holders then go for specialisation, which involves clearing the post-graduation entrance test. Surely after all this, we can safely say our doctors are well equipped to tackle diseases. Looking at what seems to be a strictly merit based system, the sale of seats comes as a rude shock. In estimates by the Times of India, approximately ₹12,000 crore exchanges hands in the black market over the sale of medical seats. Around ₹9000 crore goes into the sale of undergraduate MBBS college seats, while the rest goes into post-graduation seat sales.
More than half the registered medical colleges are privately run. Though the management quota is fixed at 15%, these colleges at times put up to 50% of their seats for sale. Many universities conduct independent entrance tests, claiming to keep admissions based on merit. In actuality, the tests are often just a sham, the seats are eventually allotted to those who paid absurd amounts. The transactions are carried out in cash, leaving no trail behind. Advertisements and calls are made for prospective candidates offering them seats. As time passes and entrance exams are conducted, the prices keep increasing.
Students who work hard and deserve the seats are denied the same, while the undeserving rich receive with a degree on entirely unfair grounds. While such an event is condemnable in any field, the immorality is even greater in the field of medicine. Invaluable lives are at stake. Doctors deal with lives, not only are meritorious doctors denied the chance, but the society is deprived of good doctors and is handed an unqualified set. We hear of incidents of negligence and malpractice on behalf of the doctors. An unqualified doctor is nothing short of a certified practitioner with the license to cause harm. Endangering lives is not just criminally materialistic, but also inhuman.
The Logical Indian firmly condemns colleges and agencies indulging in such acts, and also the ‘customers’, without whom. Merit is not a purchasable item.
