The Ministry of Health has approved a new category for the selection and nomination of ‘Wards of COVID Warriors’ candidates under the MBBS / BDS core group seats for the 2020-21 academic year.
Five MBBS core group seats have been reserved for this category for the 2020-21 year, according to a statement issued by the ministry.
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan announced on Thursday the government’s decision to introduce a new category called ‘Wards of COVID Warriors’ into the guidelines for the selection and nomination of candidates for the core group seats of MBBS for 2020-21.
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He said that this move was intended to dignify and honor the noble contribution of COVID warriors in treating and managing COVID-19 patients.
The Minister added that the governments of the State / Territory of the Union will certify the eligibility for this category. “The selection of candidates will be made by the Medical Council Committee (MCC) through the online application based on the rank obtained in NEET-2020 made by the National Testing Agency,” said the Ministry.
MBBS core group seats can be assigned for the selection and nomination of candidates from among the wards of COVID warriors who lost their lives due to COVID-19 or accidentally died while serving COVID-19 related duties.
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COVID warriors are all public healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact with and care for COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk of being affected by this.
Private hospital staff and retirees / volunteers / local urban agencies / contracted / daily salary / ad hoc / subcontracted personnel requisitioned by states / central hospitals / autonomous hospitals of the center / states / UT, AIIMS and institutes of national importance / hospitals of Central ministries drafted for COVID-19 include all responsibilities, the ministry said.
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