Kerala private medical colleges have trouble filling non-clinical pg seats in spite of incentives

Even with a liberal scholarship system, fee exemption, and hefty promotional campaigns, private medical schools in Kerala are facing a seemingly glaring problem: the lack of filling non-clinical postgraduate (PG) seats. In response to a recent query under the Right to Information Act (RTI), 28 seats in MD non-clinical courses like pharmacology, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, and anatomy are unfilled even after the end of the 2024 admission season.

The scenario reflects a worrying trend in the state's medical education system, where young physicians increasingly eschew non-clinical career options due to limited career opportunities and low return on investment.

"Even with these enticing promises, students shy away from taking non-clinical courses," claims Dr Ashik Basheer, state president, General Practitioners Association (GPA). "The actual issue is employability. Most students do not envision successful career development, particularly after forking out Rs 9–10 lakh per year for three years."

While clinical PG seats are highly competitive—with fees usually crossing Rs 17 lakh annually—non-clinical subjects have few takers. To get a clinical PG seat, candidates need to get a rank in the top 2,500 in the NEET-PG exam. For non-clinical courses, even the qualifying percentile is usually enough. But demand is lukewarm.

Private medical colleges have tried to fill this gap in demand by going in for aggressive marketing. One college official, who wished to remain anonymous, conceded that colleges often provide scholarships and fee waivers simply to get applicants. "But students are cautious," the official said. "They see little career opportunities in non-clinical areas, and the cost can be difficult to justify."

The disinterest in the non-clinical streams also jeopardizes the quality of undergraduate medical education. PG students in such departments also act as tutors to MBBS students, and they have an important role to play in core learning. "Without non-clinical PGs, the undergraduate teaching system becomes unsustainable," Dr. Basheer stressed.

Kulathoor Jaisingh, whose lawyer has filed an RTI regarding the imbalances, expressed concern over the imbalances. "We are facing a dearth of doctors, and PG seats, especially in clinical departments, are few. Authorities should give serious thought to increasing clinical PG seats, instead of providing cosmetic measures to fill non-clinical seats," he said.

Notably, the problem mostly exists within private colleges. Non-clinical seats in Kerala government medical colleges have all been filled, aided by superior institution reputation, cheaper tuition, and the added glory of training within the public sector.

Dr. Althaf A, a professor and epidemiologist at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, notices a trend. "Students are career-oriented. Non-clinical posts have improved working conditions, but no guarantee of placement. Those who take them do so out of personal interest or long-term academic goals," he stated. "The actual solution is to boost clinical PG intake in general."

With the state still churning out thousands of MBBS graduates every year, the growing gap between demand for clinical specializations and supply of available postgraduate opportunities risks derailing the career paths of young physicians and the healthcare delivery system as a whole.

Though incentives might provide short-term relief, experts indicate structural reforms and strategic seat allotment as the need of the hour to reconcile employability with educational infrastructure.