Reduction of PG quota for PHC doctors sparks row

Data shows nearly 70 docs did not serve in govt facilities after completing PG courses under in-service quota between 2018 and 2024

- K KALYAN KRISHNA KUMAR @ Vijayawada

THE State government has revised its reservation policy for postgraduate (PG) medical admissions for the 2025-26 academic year, reducing the quota for doctors serving in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in clinical disciplines from 20% to 15%. However, the 30% quota for non-clinical disciplines remains unchanged.

Approved by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the move has sparked debate among the medical community, particularly among PHC doctors, who fear the reduced quota in high-demand clinical specialities may deter service in rural government facilities.

For the upcoming academic year, 15% of PG seats across seven clinical disciplines: General Medicine, General Surgery, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Anaesthesia, Emergency Medicine and Radiology, will be reserved for PHC doctors. Meanwhile, nine non-clinical subjects, including Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, will retain a 30% reservation.