To ensure there is no shortage of frontline workers for treatment of Covid patients arriving at the hospitals, the Board of Governors (BoG), formed in suppression of the Medical Council of India (MCI), has asked the medical colleges to continue with the services of the postgraduate (PG) residents in handling the pandemic till the fresh batch arrives in the colleges.

The move follows concerns that not only final year exams of the Post Graduate courses like Diploma, MD or MS have been delayed but even the counselling for the admission to PG courses has been postponed in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The current pandemic has created a shortage of medical staff and equipment to handle covid-19 cases. Currently, there are over 4,500 active coronavirus cases in India, with only limited medical staff and resources.

“All the colleges and universities which have not yet connected their final year PG exams are advised to do so as soon as the situation is under control.

“In order to ensure that there is no shortage of Residents while handling Covid-19 cases the service of these postgraduate students as Residents may be continued until fresh batches have joined,” said the advisory issued in view of an extraordinary situation created due to the outbreak of COVID19

The BoG has also asked all medical institutions whether private or central/state-funded to continue the availability of accommodation, payment of stipend for all final year PG students during the lockdown period as their work is being extended too. “No institute is allowed to deny both these facilities,” said the advisory.