Reservation to compromise quality: IMA

Fearing a drop in quality of healthcare, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) today said the proposal for 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in professional educational institutions was based on populist politics.

"Recent recommendation to create an additional 27 per cent quota for OBCs would severely compromise the quality of healthcare provided by health professionals in the country," said Vinay Aggarwal, secretary general, IMA. Unfortunately, our politicians have always been guided by votebank politics, he added.

The association has decided to write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Health Minister A Ramadoss on the issue.

The new policy would further decrease the number of seats filled on the basis of merit, IMA said.

In general category, around 2.5 lakh students fight for just 1,500 seats in the All India Pre Medical Test and nearly 15,000 students sit in the Delhi pre-medical test for 312 seats, according to IMA.

"With around 50 per cent seats reserved, these students (OBCs) will get admission on a platter. Once they pass out, jobs are also kept reserved for them," said Sanjiv Malik, national president, IMA.