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BFUHS: Counselling ends, no takers for nearly 60% non-clinical MD seats
After five rounds of counselling, 73 of the total 126 non-clinical branches MD seats, seven MDS and two PG diploma seats were declared vacant. The highest number of non-clinical seats remained vacant for anatomy (15), followed by physiology (11), pharmacology (10), microbiology (10), biochemistry (9) and social medicine (7)
As Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) concluded counselling for admission to postgraduate medical and dental courses on Friday, 58% of the seats of non-clinical branches of the doctor of medicine (MD) courses remained vacant.
As a significant number of non-clinical MD courses seats remained vacant in Punjab medical colleges after the conclusion of four rounds of counselling, the BFUHS on Wednesday held an “extended stray vacancy” round of counselling to fill these seats. However, only three eligible candidates appeared for MD seats and one for master of dental surgery (MDS) seats.
After five rounds of counselling, 73 of the total 126 non-clinical branches MD seats, seven MDS and two PG diploma seats were declared vacant. The highest number of non-clinical seats remained vacant for anatomy (15), followed by physiology (11), pharmacology (10), microbiology (10), biochemistry (9) and social medicine (7).
In last year’s counselling for admission to PG courses, 80 MD non-clinical seats remained vacant. “Due to various factors, including job opportunities, there is less demand for non-clinical courses. After the outbreak of Covid, the demand for microbiology branch increased but it has again declined,” said a BFUHS official.
Experts in the medical education field said the response and demand for non-clinical courses, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, microbiology and community medicine, had been decreasing.
Meanwhile, 240 of the 1,335 BDS seats in Punjab’s 16 dental colleges also remained vacant, however, the vacancy figures are the lowest since the Covid outbreak.
Dr Rajiv Sood, vice-chancellor, BFUHS said, “An extended stray vacancy round was conducted by BFUHS on Wednesday to fill vacant PG medical and dental course seats. The process for admissions to PG courses has concluded. Meanwhile, counselling for BDS courses will conclude on October 31. The last date of filling choices for nursing courses also ended on Wednesday, now seats will be allotted to the candidates,” he added.
