All the concerned candidates are advised to take note of the all the below-mentioned details including registration and counselling process, quota-wise eligibility criteria before applying with the MCC for MBBS, BDS, BSc Nursing admissions 2023.

The MCC/DGHS will be doing Counseling for 15% AIQ, 100% Deemed Universities, Central Universities (Delhi University, AMU & BHU including Institutional/ Domicile Quota), ESIC, AFMC (only Registration Part) &I.P University (VMMC & SJH AND ABVIMS & RML& ESIC Dental, Delhi (15% AIQ + 85% Institutional Quota ) 100% AIIMS, 100% JIPMER and B.Sc. Nursing (only Central Institutes).

The role of MCC of DGHS is limited to allotment of seats to the participating candidates, as per their merit and choice, which starts only after receiving the list/data/Information of successful candidates from National Testing Agency i.e. the NEET (UG) examination conducting body. 

There will be four rounds of AIQ online counseling i.e. AIQ Round 1, AIQ Round 2, AIQ Round 3 (earlier known as AIQ Mop-Up Round) and AIQ Stray Vacancy Round (SLA (C) No. 10487 of 2021 in the matter of Nihila P.P. v/s MCC & Ors. Hon’ble Supreme Court of India) which will be conducted in online mode. All candidates who have qualified for All India Quota seats on the basis of their rank in NEET UG conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) across the Country. Eligible candidates may download the Rank letter/ Result from NTA website. Cut-off rank of eligible candidates will also be available on the MCC website (www.mcc.nic.in).

All India Quota

Open seats-domicile free includes:

i. 15% All India Quota seats MBBS/ BDS Seats of States,

ii. 100% MBBS/ BDS Seats of BHU OPEN

iii. AIIMS Open seats- 100% MBBS Seats of AIIMS across India

iv. JIPMER Open (Puducherry/ Karaikal)

v. AMU Open

vi. 15% All India Quota seats of DU/ I.P University (VMMC/ ABVIMS/ESIC Dental)

vii. Jamia Open seats- Faculty of Dentistry (Jamia Milia Islamia)

viii. 15% All India Quota Seats of ESIC

Reservation Policy for 15% All India Quota seats:

Reservation Policy of the Central Government for the NEET-UG Counselling in All India Quota is as follows:

 S.C.- 15%

 S.T.- 7.5%

 O.B.C.- (Non-Creamy Layer) as per the Central OBC list- 27%

 EWS- as per Central Government norms- 10%

 PwD- Horizontal Reservation as per NMC norms- 5%

Reservation of seats under PWD Category is 5% in AIQ & as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019). For range of disabilities included, please see Annexure ‘1’.

Candidates who want to avail 5% PwD reservation in UG seats of Govt. /Central medical institutions should obtain Disability certificate & as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019). The online certificate issued by the designated disability center through software provided by Medical counselling committee will be eligible, any other certificate issued by any other hospital/ board will not be accepted.

Candidates declared Qualified/Eligible for All India Quota Undergraduate Seats (MBBS/BDS) only will be eligible for online allotment process for All India Quota Seats, which is conducted by the Medical Counseling Committee (MCC), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, & Government of India. For State Quota, Private medical and dental college under State(s) authority, the candidates are required to contact the appropriate State Government/Admission Authority & Directorate of Medical Education. Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) will not be able to guide candidates in this matter. 

As per the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India dated 03.02.2023 passed in W.P (Civil) 891 of 2021 in the matter of ‘Anushka Rengunthwar & Ors. Vs Union of India & Ors.’,

“57. Hence, the notification being sustainable prospectively, we hereby declare that the impugned portion of the notification which provides for supersession of the notifications dated 11.04.2005, 05.01.2007 and 05.01.2009 and the clause 4(ii), its proviso and Explanation (1) thereto shall operate prospectively in respect of OCI cardholders who have secured the same subsequent to04.03.2021.

58. We further hold that the petitioners in all these cases and all other similarly placed OCI cardholders will be entitled to the rights and privileges which had been conferred on them earlier to the notification dated 04.03.2021 and could be availed by them notwithstanding the exclusion carved out in the notification dated 04.03.2021. The participation of the petitioners and similarly placed OCI cardholders in the selection process and the subsequent action based on 74 the interim orders passed herein or elsewhere shall stand regularized.”

Keeping in view of the directions passed hereinabove, the OCI cardholders will now be eligible to the rights which were provided to them earlier to the impugned notification dated 04.03.2021. They will be treated at par with Indian citizens and will be eligible for UR (General) category seats as well as NRI seats for the purpose of NEET(UG)-2023 counseling conducted by MCC. 

Roster:

 The roster on the 15% AIQ seats shall be applied by the MCC of DGHS, MoHFW as per DoPT, MoHFW & GoI norms.

Eligibility Condition for AIQ:

1. The Candidate should have qualified NEET UG.

2. Domicile free.

3. As per norms of NMC

• The conversion of seats will be carried out during the Round 3 for AIQ, Deemed, Central Universities/Institutes, AIIMS, JIPMER, B.Sc. Nursing courses. The said conversion will be done only when the eligible Candidates belonging to the said Conversion Category have exhausted.

CONVERSION ALGORITHM

S.NO.
CONVERSION
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CONVERTED TO

1
ST (PwD)
ST

2
SC (PwD)
SC

3
UR (PwD)
UR

4
OBC(PwD)
OBC

5
ST
SC

6
SC
UR

7
EWS
UR

8
NRI
UR

• Medical counselling committee does not allot seat through nomination basis.

DEEMED UNIVERSITY

 There will be four rounds of counselling i.e. Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and Stray Vacancy Round. All the 4 rounds shall be conducted online by MCC as per the directions the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide order dated 12.12.2022.

As per the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide order dated 12.12.2022 passed in “I.A NO. 132614/2022 in WP No. 102 of 2017 in Christian medical College Ludhiana Society vs Secretary, Medical Education Research, Punjab”,

“2. Having heard Ms Aishwarya Bhati, Additional Solicitor General, we direct that for 100% deemed universities:

(i) There shall be four rounds of common counselling for the All India Quota seats conducted by the Medical Counseling Committee; and

(ii) The Medical Counseling Committee is permitted to conduct an online counselling for the stray vacancy round.

3. The above directions shall take effect from the ensuing academic year 2022-23.”

In light of the above directions, as passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of DGHS, MoHFW, shall conduct the counselling for the Stray Vacancy Round of 100% seats of Deemed Universities.

 All the candidates who have qualified for All India Quota seats on the basis of their rank in NEET UG conducted by NTA including candidates from Union Territory of J&K will be eligible. Eligible candidates may download the Rank letter/ Result from NTA website. 

Reservation Policy:

 Candidates who fall under the category of NRI as per the directions/ orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case (W.P. (C) No. 689/2017- Consortium of Deemed Universities in Karnataka (CODEUNIK) & Anr. Vs. Union of India &Ors.) dated 22-08- 2017 are eligible for NRI Category.

 As per the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India dated 03.02.2023 passed in W.P (Civil) 891 of 2021 in the matter of ‘Anushka Rengunthwar & Ors. Vs Union of India & Ors.’,

“57. Hence, the notification being sustainable prospectively, we hereby declare that the impugned portion of the notification which provides for supersession of the notifications dated 11.04.2005, 05.01.2007 and 05.01.2009 and the clause 4(ii), its proviso and Explanation (1) thereto shall operate prospectively in respect of OCI cardholders who have secured the same subsequent to 04.03.2021.

58. We further hold that the petitioners in all these cases and all other similarly placed OCI cardholders will be entitled to the rights and privileges which had been conferred on them earlier to the notification dated 04.03.2021 and could be availed by them notwithstanding the exclusion carved out in the notification dated 04.03.2021. The participation of the petitioners and similarly placed OCI cardholders in the selection process and the subsequent action based on 74 the interim orders passed herein or elsewhere shall stand regularized.” 

 Keeping in view of the directions passed hereinabove, the OCI cardholders will now be eligible to the rights which were provided to them earlier to the impugned notification dated 04.03.2021. They will be treated at par with Indian citizens and will be eligible for UR (General) category seats as well as NRI seats for the purpose of NEET(UG)-2023 for counselling conducted by MCC.

The Candidates who wish to claim the benefit under NRI category through NRI sponsorship will have to submit the following documents as and when the same are called for by the MCC along with the undertaking as annexed as Annexure 6.

 Documents claiming that the sponsorer is an NRI (Passport, Visa of the sponsorer).

 Relationship of NRI with the candidate as per the court orders of The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in case W.P.(c) No. 689/2017- Consortium of Deemed Universities in Karnataka (CODEUNIK) & Ans. Vs Union of India &Ors. dated 22-08- 2017.

 Affidavit from the sponsorer that he/ she will sponsor the entire course fee of the candidate duly notarized.

 Embassy Certificate of the Sponsorer (Certificate from the Consulate).

 NEET Score Card of the candidate.

There will be no reservation for OBC/ SC/ ST/ PWD/EWS candidates in Deemed Universities.

There might be reservation for Jain Minority or Muslim Minority in certain Deemed universities. Candidates are requested to verify their eligibility for the same before applying under the said category. 

Seat Matrix:

 The seat matrix for the Deemed University seats shall be prepared by the MCC of DGHS, MoHFW.

Eligibility Condition for Deemed University:

1. The Candidate should have qualified NEET UG.

2. Domicile free.

JAIN MINORITY/ MUSLIM MINORITY/ NRI CONVERSION: JAIN MINORITY/ MUSLIM MINORITY/ NRI seats remaining vacant during the Round 3 will be converted to Private Deemed University seats after exhaustion of all the eligible Jain Minority/Muslim Minority/ NRI candidates to avoid any wastage of seats.

 The conversion of seats will be carried out during the Round 3 of Deemed Universities. The said conversion will be done only when the eligible Candidates belonging to the said Conversion Category have exhausted. 

CONVERSION ALGORITHM

S.NO.
CONVERSION
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CONVERTED TO

1
NRI/Jain
Minority/Muslim Minority
UR

ALL  AIIMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

There will be four rounds of counselling i.e. Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 & Stray Vacancy Round for all AIIMS across the Country which will be conducted by MCC. All the candidates who have qualified for NEET-UG on the basis of their rank in NEET UG conducted by NTA will be eligible. Eligible candidates may download the Rank letter/ Result from NTA website. 

Reservation Policy for AIIMS:

The reservation policy of the Central Government is followed and the same is applied only on the seats contributed by AIIMS to MCC:

 S.C.- 15%

 S.T.- 7.5%

 O.B.C.- (Non-Creamy Layer) as per the Central OBC list- 27%

 EWS- as per Central Government norms- 10%

 PwD- Horizontal Reservation as per NMC norms- 5%

 Foreign National seats**

Reservation of seats under PWD Category is 5% & as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019). For range of disabilities included and designated disability centres, please see Annexure ‘1’.

Candidates who want to avail 5% PwD reservation in UG seats of Govt. /Central medical institutions should obtain Disability certificate as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019), from the designated disability centres as enclosed as ANNEXURE- 1. The online certificate issued by the designated disability center through software provided by Medical counselling committee only will be eligible, any other certificate issued by any other hospital/ board will not be accepted. 

** For the Foreign National seats only OCI/PIO/Foreign Nationals candidates will be eligible.

The fees for the Foreign National seats will be determined by AIIMS Authorities.

Roster:

 The roster for the 100% AIIMS seats shall be applied by the MCC of DGHS, MoHFW. 

Eligibility Condition for AIIMS:

1. The Candidate should have qualified NEET UG.

2. Domicile free.

3. Eligibility conditions as per AIIMS will be applicable.

 The conversion of seats will be carried out during the Round 3 for AIIMS. The said conversion will be done only when the eligible Candidates belonging to the said Conversion Category have exhausted.

CONVERSION ALGORITHM 

S.NO.
CONVERSION
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CONVERTED TO

1
ST (PwD)
ST

2
SC (PwD)
SC

3
UR (PwD)
UR

4
OBC(PwD)
OBC

5
ST
SC

6
SC
UR

7
EWS
UR

8
Foreign
Nationals
UR

ESIC- Insured Persons Quota

 Percentage of Insured Persons Quota seats out of State Quota seats earmarked for Insured Persons students is domicile free and the counselling for the same will be conducted by MCC as per ESIC norms.

 There will be four rounds of counselling i.e., Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and online Stray Vacancy Round for ESIC which will be conducted by MCC. All the candidates who have qualified for NEET-UG on the basis of their rank in NEET UG conducted by NTA will be eligible. Eligible candidates may download the Rank letter/ Result from NTA website.

Reservation Policy:

Reservation Policy for ESIC Insured Persons Quota is as follows:

 S.C.- 15%

 S.T.- 7.5%

 O.B.C.- (Non-Creamy Layer) as per the Central OBC list- 27%

 EWS- as per Central Government norms- 10%

 PwD- Horizontal Reservation as per NMC norms- 5%

Reservation of seats under PWD Category is 5% & as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019). For range of disabilities included and the designated disability centres, please see Annexure ‘1’.

Candidates who want to avail 5% PwD reservation in UG seats of Govt./Central medical institutions should obtain Disability certificate as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019) enclosed as ANNEXURE-2, from the designated disability centres. The online certificate issued by the designated disability center through software provided by Medical counselling committee only will be eligible, any other certificate issued by any other hospital/ board will not be accepted. 

Roster : 

 For the Insured Person quota seats of ESIC, the roster will be applied by MCC,DGHS. **

**Eligibility Condition for Insured Person Quota candidates of ESIC:

1. Candidate should have Ward of Insured Persons certificate with distinct number.

2. Candidate should have qualified All India Examination i.e. NEET UG for the relevant year.

3. Domicile free.

4. Reservation for the MBBS/BDS seats under Insured Persons’ Quota would be as per extant Govt. of India guidelines.

(The eligibility conditions have been provided by ESIC Authority for Insured Persons Quota admission to course- Annexure- 7

However, the candidates are advised to check their eligibility conditions well in advance before applying for the Insured Persons Quota)

•  Medical counselling committee does not allot seat through nomination basis. 

CENTRAL UNIVERSITY/INSTITUTE

There will be four rounds of counselling i.e. Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 & Stray Vacancy Round to be conducted by MCC in online mode. All the candidates who have qualified for NEET-UG on the basis of their rank in NEET UG conducted by NTA will be eligible. Eligible candidates may download the Rank letter/ Result from NTA website.

The MCC of DGHS, MoHFW shall conduct counselling for 15% AIQ and 85% State Quota seats of Central University/Institutes

 Disclaimer:

 The counselling for 15% AIQ is domicile free.

 The eligibility conditions for the State quota is given by the colleges/institutes, MCC has no role to play in determining the eligibility conditions for the State quota of the Central Universities/Institutes.

 The Candidates are requested to go through the eligibility conditions before applying for the State quota of the Central Universities/Institutes and ensure that they meet the prescribed eligibility conditions.

 If any Candidate at any stage of the counselling process is found to have furnished any incorrect/wrong information with regard to his/her eligibility condition, his/her candidature shall be cancelled for the further rounds of the counselling and the security deposit shall be forfeited.

 Reservation of seats under PWD Category is 5% in Central Universities & as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019). For range of disabilities included and the designated centers; please see Annexure ‘1’.

 Candidates who want to avail 5% PwD reservation in UG seats of Govt. /Central medical institutions should obtain Disability certificate as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019) enclosed as Annexure 2 from the designated disability centers. The online certificate issued by the designated disability center through software provided by Medical counselling committee will be eligible, any other certificate issued by any other hospital/ board will not be accepted.

 The conversion of seats will be carried out during the Round 3 for Central Universities/Institutes. The said conversion will be done only when the eligible Candidates belonging to the said Conversion Category have exhausted.

 The algorithm for conversion of category is as follows:

CONVERSION ALGORITHM

S.NO.
CONVERSION
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CONVERTED TO

1
ST (PwD)
ST

2
SC (PwD)
SC

3
UR (PwD)
UR

4
OBC(PwD)
OBC

5
ST
SC

6
SC
UR

CW CONVERSION ALGORITHM

S.NO.
CONVERSION
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CONVERTED TO

1
ST (CW)
SC (CW)

2
SC (CW)
OBC (CW)

3
OBC (CW)
Nil

4
EWS(CW)
UR(CW)

Delhi University (LHMC,UCMS, MAMC, MAIDS) : - 

15% Seats will be contributed by the Delhi University to All India Quota. For the rest 85% seats, candidates who have studied 11th&12th grade in Delhi NCT are eligible for State Quota of 85% in Delhi University.

Reservation Policy:

The reservation policy of the Central Government is followed:

 S.C.- 15%

 S.T.- 7.5%

 O.B.C.- (Non-Creamy Layer) as per the Central OBC list- 27%

 EWS- as per Central Government norms- 10%

 PwD- Horizontal Reservation as per NMC norms- 5%

 There will be reservation for C.W. Candidates. Candidates are advised to check their eligibility and the rules thereof with the DU before applying for the said reservation. (Only for State Quota seats)

The Candidates who have filled in their category as CW, their names will be verified by the Competent Authority.

Reservation of seats under PWD Category is 5% in AIQ & as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019). For range of disabilities included and the designated centersplease see Annexure ‘1’.

Candidates who want to avail 5% PwD reservation in UG seats of Govt./Central medical institutions should obtain Disability certificate as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019) enclosed as Annexure 2, from the designated disability centers. The online certificate issued by the designated disability center through software provided by Medical counseling committee only will be eligible, any other certificate issued by any other hospital/ board will not be accepted.

Roster:

 The roster on the 100% seats i.e. 15% AIQ and 85% State Quota seats will be applied by MCC of DGHS, MoHFW.

Eligibility Condition for DU Internal Quota:

 The eligibility conditions have been provided by DU Authority for State Quota admission to MBBS/BDS course- Annexure-8)

(The eligibility condition for state quota is provided by DU. MCC has no role to play in this regard. Candidates are advised to verify the eligibility criteria from the DU website before applying for the said seats.)

• Medical counselling committee does not allot seat through nomination basis

Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi :

As per the Ordinance, Jamia has its own reservation policy for admission to various programs of the University including the eligibility conditions for internal candidate seats.

Candidates are advised to go through the Information Bulletin of Jamia for checking the eligibility conditions, seat status etc. before applying for the same.

The following is the distribution of seat matrix for admission to BDS course:

Category
General
General
Muslim
Muslim Women
Muslim OBC
Muslim ST
Jamia Internal
Total seats

Seat matrix
3
3
15
5
4
1
2
50

"Internal students of Jamia" are students who have passed their qualifying examination of the concerned program from Jamia Schools as regular students.

NOTE: Students permitted to appear as Private Candidate/Distance mode, shall not be entitled for consideration under the Internal (Jamia) category."

(The eligibility conditions have been provided by Jamia Authorities and MCC has no role to play in the same.)

Roster:

 MCC allots the seats on the basis of the roster/seat matrix provided by JMI, (Dental) and MCC has no role in this regard.

Central Institutes Under I.P. University- VMMC & SJH; ABVIMS & RML and ESIC Dental: 

15% Seats will be contributed by the VMMC & SJH; ABVIMS & RML and ESIC Dental to All India Quota. For the rest 85% seats, candidates who have studied 11th& 12th grade from NCT of Delhi are eligible for State Quota of 85% in VMMC & SJH, ABVIMS & RML and ESIC Dental.

 Reservation Policy for AIQ and State Quota seats:

The reservation policy of the Central Government is followed in 15% AIQ and 85% State Quota and the same is applied only on the seats contributed by VMMC & SJH; ABVIMS & RML and ESIC:

 S.C.- 15%

 S.T.- 7.5%

 O.B.C.- 27% (Non-Creamy Layer) in Central List of OBC

 PwD- 5% Horizontal Reservation

 EWS- 10%

 C.W. Candidates- Candidates are advised to check their eligibility and the rules thereof with the College before applying for the said reservation- 5%Horizontal reservation as per the eligibility decided by the competent authority. (Only for State Quota seats)

The Candidates who have filled in their category as CW, their names will be verified by the Competent Authority.

Reservation of seats under PWD Category is 5% in AIQ & as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019). For range of disabilities included and the designated centers please see Annexure ‘1’.

Candidates who want to avail 5% PwD reservation in UG seats of Govt./Central medical institutions should obtain Disability certificate as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019) enclosed as Annexure 2 , from the designated disability centers. The online certificate issued by the designated disability center through software provided by Medical Counseling Committee only will be eligible, any other certificate issued by any other hospital/ board will not be accepted.

Roster:

 The roster on the 15% AIQ seats as well as roster for 85% seats of internal quota will be applied by MCC.

Eligibility condition for VMMC & SJH; ABVIMS & RML; ESIC, Dental State Quota seats as provided by the I.P. University authorities:

 The location of the school/college from which the Candidates have passed the qualifying examination will form the criteria for deciding the region of the candidates. The candidates who have studied 10+2 (11th and 12th) classes in the recognized schools/colleges in Delhi and passed the qualifying examination from any school/college located in NCT of Delhi shall fall under ‘State Quota’.

•  Medical counselling committee does not allot a seat through nomination basis. 

Aligarh Muslim University

There will be four rounds of counselling i.e. Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and Stray Vacancy Round for which counselling will be conducted by MCC. All the candidates who have qualified for NEET-UG on the basis of their rank in NEET UG conducted by NTA will be eligible. Eligible candidates may download the Rank letter/ Result from NTA website.

Roster:

 There is no reservation in AMU open seats as per the information provided by AMU Authorities except for 5% PwD Horizontal reservation.

 For the seats of Internal quota of AMU, as per the eligibility provided by AMU authorities, all the seats will be under UR as the same is reserved only for the internal candidates of AMU.

MCC shall provide the list of registered Candidates under the AMU internal quota. AMU shall verify and send the list of eligible candidates to MCC who will be considered as internal AMU candidates for internal AMU quota. MCC shall not be held liable if any discrepancy arises in the list of eligible Candidates for AMU internal quota. 

Eligibility condition for Internal Quota seats:

 The Eligibility conditions for AMU Internal candidates given by AMU Authorities are attached at Annexure 9.

 Candidates are advised to check the eligibility criteria for internal quota of AMU on the website of AMU.

 MCC has no role to play in deciding the internal eligibility criteria for AMU.

 Medical counselling committee does not allot a seat through nomination basis. 

 Banaras Hindu University

All NEET-UG qualified Candidates across India are eligible to participate in the UG counseling of IMS, BHU and IDS, BHU.All the Candidates who have qualified the NEET are eligible to apply for the same.

There will be four rounds of counselling i.e. Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 & Stray

Vacancy Round for which counselling will be conducted by MCC. All the candidates

who have qualified for NEET-UG on the basis of their rank in NEET UG conducted

by NTA will be eligible. Eligible candidates may download the Rank letter/ Result

from NTA website. 

All the Candidates who have qualified the NEET are eligible to apply for the same. There will be four rounds of counselling i.e. Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 & Stray Vacancy Round for which counselling will be conducted by MCC. All the candidates who have qualified for NEET-UG on the basis of their rank in NEET UG conducted by NTA will be eligible. Eligible candidates may download the Rank letter/ Result from NTA website. 

 Reservation Policy:

The reservation policy of the Central Government is followed and the same is applied only on the seats contributed by BHU:

 S.C.- 15%

 S.T.- 7.5%

 O.B.C.- 27% (Non-Creamy Layer) in Central List

 PwD- 5% Horizontal Reservation

 EWS- 10%

Reservation of seats under PWD Category is 5% in AIQ & as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019). For range of disabilities included and the designated centers, please see Annexure ‘1’.

Candidates who want to avail 5% PwD reservation in UG seats of Govt./Central medical institutions should obtain Disability certificate as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019) enclosed as Annexure 2 , from the designated disability centers. The online certificate issued by the designated disability center through software provided by Medical counseling committee only will be eligible, any other certificate issued by any other hospital/ board will not be accepted.

Roster:

 MCC will apply roster on the 100% seats contributed by BHU for bothMedical and Dental course.

Eligibility condition:

 Domicile free

 Candidates who have qualified the NEET are eligible to apply for the same.

 The conversion of seats will be carried out during the Round 3 for BHU. The said conversion will be done only when the eligible Candidates belonging to the said Conversion Category have exhausted.

CONVERSION ALGORITHM

S.NO.
CONVERSION
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CONVERTED TO

1
ST (PwD)
ST

2
SC (PwD)
SC

3
UR (PwD)
UR

4
OBC(PwD)
OBC

5
ST
SC

6
SC
UR

7
EWS
UR

•  Medical counselling committee does not allot a seat through nomination basis.

AFMC

Candidates who desire to participate in AFMC Counseling will be required to register on the MCC portal i.e. www.mcc.nic.in.

The list of registered candidates will be sent to AFMC Authorities for conducting counseling at their own end as per their rules and regulations of AFMC Authorities.

The role of MCC is limited to registration of the willing Candidates only.

MCC shall not be responsible for any allotment made by or on behalf of the AFMC Authorities.

Candidates must verify the Eligibility Conditions (especially Medical Eligibility conditions) from the AFMC website before applying for AFMC Counselling. There have been instances of cancellation of admission due to non-fulfillment of Medical Eligibility Conditions.

MCC will not entertain any query with regard to the AFMC Counselling.

Candidates must verify their eligibility conditions well before from the AFMC website before applying for AFMC Counselling. MCC will not entertain any grievance regarding the same.

JIPMER

There will be four rounds of counselling i.e. Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and online Stray Vacancy Round for which counselling will be conducted by MCC. All the candidates who have qualified for NEET-UG on the basis of their rank in NEET UG conducted by NTA will be eligible. Eligible candidates may download the Rank letter/ Result from NTA website.

JIPMER has its own eligibility and admission policies for its state quota seats which the Candidates are advised to go through the same. The seat information of JIPMER for NEET UG is provided by JIPMER.

Candidates are advised to go through the Information Bulletin of JIPMER for checking the eligibility conditions, seat status etc. before applying for the same. 

Reservation Policy:

The reservation policy of the Central Government is followed and the same is applied only on the seats contributed by JIPMER as OPEN seats:

 S.C.- 15%

 S.T.- 7.5%

 O.B.C.- 27% (Non-Creamy Layer) in Central List

 PwD- 5% Horizontal Reservation

 EWS- 10%

Reservation of seats under PWD Category is 5% in AIQ & as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019). For range of disabilities included and the designated centers, please see Annexure ‘1’.

Candidates who want to avail 5% PwD reservation in UG seats of Govt./Central medical institutions should obtain Disability certificate as per NMC norms (Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019) enclosed as Annexure 2, from the designated disability centers. The online certificate issued by the designated disability center through software provided by Medical counseling committee only will be eligible, any other certificate issued by any other hospital/ board will not be accepted.

Roster:

 MCC will apply the roster on the number of seats provided by JIPMER.

Eligibility Condition for JIPMER Internal seats:

1. The Candidate should have qualified NEET UG.

2. Candidates are advised to go through Annexure-10 for the eligibility quota details. The same has been provided by JIPMER Authorities, MCC has no role in the same.

3. The list of domicile candidates for internal seats is provided by State authorities of Puducherry. Medical counselling committee has no role to play in determination of domicile status of the candidate. In case of any discrepancy, the candidates are advised to approach State Authorities.

 The conversion of seats will be carried out during the Round 3 JIPMER. The said conversion will be done only when the eligible Candidates belonging to the said Conversion Category have exhausted.

CONVERSION ALGORITHM

S.NO.
CONVERSION
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CONVERTED TO

1
ST (PwD)
ST

2
SC (PwD)
SC

3
UR (PwD)
UR

4
OBC(PwD)
OBC

5
ST
SC

6
SC
UR

7
EWS
UR

B.Sc. (NURSING) - Central Institutes & Institutes affiliated under I.P. University

MCC of DGHS, MoHFW will be conducting Counselling for some Institutes of B.Sc. (Nursing) for this academic year i.e. 2023-24. MCC will conduct multiple rounds of counseling in online mode. The rules for conduction of B.Sc Nursing counseling will be same as BDS counselling. All the candidates who have qualified NEET-UG on the basis of their score in NEET UG conducted by NTA including candidates from Union Territory of J&K will be eligible. Eligible candidates may download the Rank letter/ Result from NTA website. 

Reservation Policy:

The reservation policy of the Central Government is followed:

 S.C.- 15%

 S.T.- 7.5%

 O.B.C.- 27% (Non-Creamy Layer) in Central List

 PwD- 5% Horizontal Reservation as per INC norms.

 EWS- 10%

 CW seats- there may be certain seats reserved for CW candidates in certain Central Nursing Institutes for which the candidates are advised to check the eligibility conditions from the website of those Institutes. (Only for Delhi region)

Candidates who want to avail 5% PwD reservation in UG seats of Govt. /Central medical institutions should obtain Disability certificate as per NMC norms

(Gazette Notification no. MCI-34(41)/2018-Med./170045 dated 04/02/2019), from the designated disability centres as per the list enclosed as ANNEXURE- 2. The online certificate issued by the designated disability center through software provided by Medical counselling committee will be eligible, any other certificate issued by any other hospital/ board will not be accepted.

The Eligibility norms including Disability norms for B.Sc. (Nursing) are as per the norms suggested by INC. 

Roster:

 MCC will apply the roster on the number of seats provided by Nursing Authorities. 

Candidates are advised to check the eligibility criteria of each of the participating Nursing Institutes from the respective Institute websites.

MCC does not conduct counselling on the basis of nomination. 

 The conversion of seats will be carried out during the Round 3 of B.Sc. Nursing. The said conversion will be done only when the eligible Candidates belonging to the said Conversion Category have exhausted. 

CONVERSION ALGORITHM

S.NO.
CONVERSION
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CONVERTED TO

1
ST (PwD)
ST

2
SC (PwD)
SC

3
UR (PwD)
UR

4
OBC(PwD)
OBC

5
ST
SC

6
SC
UR

7
EWS
UR

CW CONVERSION ALGORITHM

S.NO.
CONVERSION
CATEGORY
CATEGORY
CONVERTED TO

1
ST (CW)
SC (CW)

2
SC (CW)
OBC (CW)

3
OBC (CW)
Nil

4
EWS(CW)
UR(CW)

REGISTRATION & COUNSELING PROCESS

 Candidates are informed that e-mail Address and Mobile Number submitted by candidate in the Online Application Form of NTA is used for registration on the MCC portal for Counselling.

 All the information/ communication will be sent by MCC of DGHS, MoHFW through email on the registered e-mail address or SMS on registered Mobile Number only.

 Any complaint with regard to the change of registered mobile number or email address shall not be entertained by the MCC of DGHS, MoHFW.

 Candidates are advised to use Laptop or Computer along with the latest registered version of Chrome/Internet Explorer/Firefox/Windows/IOS during the Registration and Choice-Filling process to avoid any technical complications.

 Qualified and eligible candidates are required to register on the MCC website i.e. www.mcc.nic.in to participate in the counselling process for allotment of seat. MCC does not allot any seat either on nomination basis or manually.

 Candidates are advised to download Sandes app for OTP on your registered phone number for registration.

 The candidates will have the mandatorily upload essential certificates after declaration of result. It is also mandatory for candidates to take their original documents during physical reporting to college so as to confirm the allotted seat.

ROUND-1 (AIQ/Central Institutes/University/AIIMS/JIPMER/Deemed University/AMU/BHU/B.Sc. Nursing)

a) Main counseling Registration which will include payment of Non-Refundable Registration fee and Refundable Security Deposit (to be refunded only in the account from which payment has been made).

b) Exercising of Choices and Locking of choices on all days.

c) Process of Seat Allotment Round-1

d) Publication of result of Round-1on MCC website

e) Uploading of essential certificates after declaration of result.

f) Physical Reporting with original documents at the allotted Medical/Dental College against 1 Round - (Candidates who have allotted a seat in round one can opt for willingness to upgrade from round 1 to round 2 for which they will have to physically report with original documents at the allotted college.)

Note: if a registered candidate is not allotted a seat, he can participate in round 2 directly without fresh registration.

ROUND-2 (AIQ/Central Institutes/University/AIIMS/JIPMER/Deemed University/AMU/BHU/B.Sc. Nursing) 

a. Candidates who registered for Round-1 and did not get any seat allotted are not required to register again. Also, candidates who have not reported in Round-1 need not register again.

b. Fresh New Registration for Round-2 for those candidates who have not registered in Round-1 (with full payment of fees).

c. Exercising of “Fresh Choice filling” and Locking of choices.

d. Process of Seat Allotment Round-2

e. Publication of result of Round-2 on MCC website

f. Uploading of essential certificates after declaration of result

g. Physical Reporting with original documents at the allotted Medical/Dental College against 2nd Round - (Candidates who have allotted a seat in round 2 can opt for willingness to upgrade from round 2 to round 3 for which they will have to physically report at the allotted college.)

h. If upgraded in Round 2, the candidate must take relieving from Round 1 seat and join Round 2 seat.

i. Candidates allotted seats in round 2 but who don’t report or join the allotted institute shall forfeit their security deposit.

j. Candidates getting upgraded in Round 2 shall NOT have any claim on Round 1 seat. 

Note:

1. If a candidate freshly registered in round 2 is not allotted a seat, he/she can participate in round 3 directly without fresh registration.

2. However, if an upgraded candidate does not want round 1 seat, he may avail exit with forfeiture within 2 days of round 2 result announcements. 

Round 3 (AIQ/Central Institutes/University/AIIMS/JIPMER/Deemed University/AMU/BHU/B.Sc. Nursing)

a) Candidates who registered for Round 1 or Round 2 and did not get any seat allotted are not required to register again.

b) Fresh New Registration Round 3 for those candidates who

• Have not registered in Round-1 or Round 2 (with full payment of fees).

• Have Resigned / Not reported in Round-1 or Round 2 need to fill fresh choices only with full payment of fees

c) Exercising of “Fresh Choice filling” and Locking of choices

d) Process of Seat Allotment Round-3

e) Publication of result of Round 3 on MCC website.

f) Uploading of essential certificates after declaration of result

g) Physical Reporting with original documents at the allotted Medical/Dental College against Round 3 allotted seat

h) If upgraded, the candidate must take relieving from Round 2 seat and join Round 3 seat. Once joined, he cannot upgrade or resign from this seat.

i) If allotted a seat, the candidate cannot upgrade or resign. If any candidate does not join Round 3 seat, he may exit with forfeiture of fess and elimination (cannot participate in any further rounds).

Note:

1. If a candidate freshly registered in round 3 is not allotted a seat, he/she is eligible to participate in stray round.

2. Candidates getting upgraded in Round 3 shall NOT have any claim on Round 2 seat. 

FINAL STRAY VACANCY ROUND

 Fresh registrations shall be done for Final Stray Vacancy Round.

 Data will be shared with Centre and the States after Round 3 and if any candidate has his name in the list of allotted candidates in either Centre or State, then such candidates shall be eliminated from the All India Stray Vacancy Round.

 AIQ Stray Vacancy Round for vacant seats of Round 3 and Deemed University seats will be conducted by MCC of DGHS, MoHFW through online mode.

 For Deemed Universities the Stray Vacancy Round will be conducted by MCC of DGHS, MoHFW as per the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide order dated 12.12.2022 passed in “I.A NO. 132614/2022 in WP No. 102 of 2017 in Christian medical College Ludhiana Society vs Secretary, Medical Education Research, Punjab”

 If a candidate is allotted a seat in Stray round, he has to join the allotted seat/college else he/she shall be debarred from NEET counselling of MCC for subsequent 2 years along with forfeiture of fees. 

To view the official Notice, Click here : https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/2023071890-214514.pdf

CALORIES ARE undeniably mentioned everywhere you turn, from food labels to restaurant menus, recipe blogs, food tracking applications and even news headlines. All the talk about calories may have you wondering why they are so important. Maybe you...

Global Gateway: EU builds new partnership for improved Latin American and Caribbean health technologies with Pan American Health Organisation

Cristina Mitchell

18 Jul 2023

Kelvin Regalado, for example, is facing charges related to the possession and distribution of various drugs, including carfentanil, heroin, fentanyl, and ketamine. According to the United States Department of Justice, Regalado conspired to deliver significant amounts of heroin and carfentanil to cooperating witnesses in multiple states.

Carfentanil is primarily used as a veterinary anesthetic for large animals such as elephants and bears. Its controlled and restricted use is due to its extreme potency, and any trade outside approved uses is illegal and highly dangerous. Handling the substance requires strict safety measures, including protective gloves, glasses, and masks, as even skin contact can be lethal.

Reports indicate that carfentanil poses significant risks not only to individuals who consume it but also to rescuers, medical personnel, and even drug-sniffing dogs. Inhaling its vapors can lead to immediate collapse, necessitating urgent treatment with drugs like Narcan, which contains naloxone to counteract acute opioid intoxication.

Carfentanil, first synthesized in the 1970s, is known for its minuscule lethal dose compared to fentanyl. While 2 milligrams of fentanyl can trigger an overdose, just 0.02 milligrams of carfentanil are sufficient to produce lethal effects. The potency and dangers associated with carfentanil make it a significant concern in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

¿Deberían perder este modesto peso extra para optimizar su salud? Esta pregunta surge ante la aparición de una nueva categoría de fármacos para la diabetes y la pérdida de peso que ofrecen la esperanza de poder deshacerse de los kilos de más.

Durante años, los expertos han debatido sobre qué aconsejar a los adultos mayores en esta situación. Por un lado, el aumento de peso se asocia a la acumulación de grasa. Y eso puede tener graves consecuencias para la salud, contribuyendo a enfermedades cardiacas, diabetes, artritis y un sinfín de otras afecciones médicas.

Por otro lado, numerosos estudios sugieren que tener algo de peso de más a veces puede ser protector en las etapas posteriores de la vida. Para las personas que se caen, la grasa puede servir de acolchado, protegiéndolas de las fracturas. Y para las personas gravemente enfermas de cáncer o insuficiencia renal avanzada, ese acolchado puede ser una fuente de energía que les ayude a tolerar terapias exigentes.

Por supuesto, todo depende del peso inicial de cada persona. Las personas ya obesas (con un índice de masa corporal igual o superior a 30) que engordan más corren más riesgo que las que pesan menos. Y un rápido aumento de peso a una edad avanzada siempre es motivo de preocupación.

Comprender las pruebas científicas y la opinión de los expertos sobre los problemas de peso en los adultos mayores no es fácil. Lo que sigue es lo que he aprendido tras revisar docenas de estudios y hablar con casi dos docenas de médicos e investigadores de la obesidad.

Nuestro cuerpo cambia con la edad. A medida que envejecemos, nuestra composición corporal varía. Perdemos masa muscular —un proceso que comienza a los 30 años y se acelera a partir de los 60— y ganamos grasa. Esto es cierto incluso cuando nuestro peso se mantiene constante.

Además, se acumula menos grasa bajo la piel y más en la parte central del cuerpo. Esta grasa abdominal se asocia a inflamación y resistencia a la insulina y a un mayor riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares, diabetes e ictus, entre otras dolencias.

“La distribución de la grasa desempeña un papel fundamental a la hora de determinar hasta qué punto es nocivo el peso añadido en forma de grasa”, afirmó Mitchell Lazar, director del Instituto de Diabetes, Obesidad y Metabolismo de la Facultad de Medicina Perelman de la Universidad de Pennsylvania. “Es la grasa visceral [abdominal] [alrededor de la cintura], más que la periférica [en caderas y nalgas] la que realmente nos preocupa”.

Los niveles de actividad disminuyen con la edad. Además, con la edad, las personas tienden a ser menos activas. Cuando los adultos mayores mantienen los mismos hábitos alimentarios (ingesta de energía) mientras reducen la actividad (gasto de energía), van a ganar peso.

Según los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC), el 27% de las personas de 65 a 74 años son físicamente inactivas fuera del trabajo, porcentaje que aumenta hasta el 35% a partir de los 75 años. Para los adultos mayores, los CDC recomiendan al menos 150 minutos semanales de actividad moderadamente intensa, como caminar a paso ligero, así como actividades de fortalecimiento muscular, como levantar pesas, al menos dos veces por semana. Según diversas encuestas, sólo entre el 27% y el 44% de los adultos mayores cumplen estas directrices.

Preocupación por la masa muscular. A los expertos les preocupa más la falta de actividad en los adultos mayores con sobrepeso u obesidad leve (un índice de masa corporal por debajo de los 30) que la pérdida de peso. Con una actividad mínima o nula, la masa muscular se deteriora y la fuerza disminuye, lo que “aumenta el riesgo de desarrollar una discapacidad o un deterioro funcional” que puede interferir con la independencia, según John Batsis, investigador de la obesidad y profesor en la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Chapel Hill.

La pérdida de peso contribuye a una masa muscular inadecuada en la medida en que el músculo se pierde junto con la grasa. Por cada kilo que se pierde, el 25% procede del músculo y el 75% de la grasa, por término medio.

Dado que los adultos mayores tienen menos músculo, “si quieren perder peso, tienen que estar dispuestos al mismo tiempo a aumentar la actividad física”, dijo Anne Newman, directora del Centro de Envejecimiento y Salud de la Población de la Facultad de Salud Pública de la Universidad de Pittsburgh.

El peso corporal ideal puede ser mayor. Las investigaciones epidemiológicas sugieren que el índice de masa corporal (IMC) ideal podría ser mayor en los adultos mayores que en los jóvenes. (El IMC es una medida del peso de una persona, en kilogramos o libras, dividido por el cuadrado de su altura, en metros o pies).

Un amplio y prestigioso estudio descubrió que los mayores situados en los extremos del espectro del IMC —los que tenían un IMC bajo (menos de 22) y los que tenían un IMC alto (más de 33)— corrían un mayor riesgo de morir antes que los que tenían un IMC en la franja media (de 22 a 32,9).

Los adultos mayores con menor riesgo de morir antes tenían IMC de 27 a 27,9. Según los estándares de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), esta cifra se sitúa en el rango de “sobrepeso” (25 a 29,9) y por encima del rango de IMC de “peso saludable” (18,5 a 24,9). Además, muchos de los ancianos que, según el estudio, presentaban un mayor riesgo de mortalidad —los que tenían un IMC inferior a 22— estarían clasificados como de “peso saludable” según la OMS.

Conclusión del estudio: “El rango de peso saludable de la OMS puede no ser adecuado para los adultos mayores”. Por el contrario, tener sobrepeso puede ser beneficioso para los adultos mayores, mientras que estar notablemente delgado puede ser problemático, contribuyendo al potencial de fragilidad.

De hecho, un IMC óptimo para las personas mayores podría situarse entre 24 y 29, según sugirió Carl Lavie, conocido investigador de la obesidad, en otro estudio en el que se revisaban las pruebas sobre la obesidad en los mayores. Lavie es director médico de rehabilitación cardiaca y prevención en Ochsner Health, un gran sistema sanitario de Nueva Orleans, y autor de “The Obesity Paradox” (La paradoja de la obesidad), un libro que analiza los problemas de peso en las personas mayores.

Recomendaciones de los expertos. Los médicos e investigadores especializados en obesidad ofrecieron varias recomendaciones importantes durante nuestras conversaciones:

— Mantener la forma física y la masa muscular es más importante que perder peso para los adultos mayores con sobrepeso (aquellos con IMC de 25 a 29,9). “¿Perder unos kilos de más va a mejorar drásticamente su salud? No creo que las pruebas lo demuestren”, señaló Lavie.

— La pérdida de peso involuntaria se asocia a varias enfermedades graves y es una señal de peligro a la que siempre hay que prestar atención. “Consulte a su médico si está perdiendo peso sin pretenderlo”, dijo Newman, de la Universidad de Pittsburgh. Ella es coautora de un nuevo trabajo en el que se constata que “la pérdida de peso imprevista, incluso entre adultos con obesidad, se asocia a un mayor riesgo de mortalidad”.

— Garantizar la calidad de la dieta es esencial. “Los adultos mayores corren el riesgo de sufrir carencias vitamínicas y otros déficits nutricionales, y si no consumen suficientes proteínas, eso es un problema”, indicó Batsis, de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte. “Yo les digo a todos mis pacientes mayores que tomen un multivitamínico”, afirmó Dinesh Edem, director del programa de Control Médico del Peso de la Universidad de Arkansas para las Ciencias Médicas.

— Perder peso es más importante para las personas mayores que tienen mucha grasa alrededor de la cintura (forma de manzana) que para las que pesan más abajo (forma de pera). “En el caso de los pacientes con un perímetro de cintura alto, somos más agresivos a la hora de reducir calorías o aumentar el ejercicio”, explicó Dennis Kerrigan, director de control de peso de Henry Ford Health, en Michigan. — Mantener la estabilidad del peso es un buen objetivo para los mayores sanos con sobrepeso, pero que no padecen obesidad moderada o grave (IMC de 35 o más). Por definición, “sano” significa que las personas no tienen problemas metabólicos graves (colesterol, azúcar en sangre, tensión arterial y triglicéridos demasiado altos), discapacidades relacionadas con la obesidad (son frecuentes los problemas de movilidad) o enfermedades graves relacionadas con la obesidad, como diabetes o cardiopatías. “Ni grandes ganancias ni grandes pérdidas: eso es lo que recomiendo”, afirmó Katie Dodd, dietista geriátrica que escribe un blog sobre nutrición.

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Santo Domingo.- According to the Minister of Public Health, Daniel Rivera, there is no presence of fentanyl in the population addicted to drugs in the Dominican Republic. He stated that there are no records of fentanyl in autopsy reports, and the National Directorate for Drug Control has not seized any of it.

Rivera emphasized that medical-grade fentanyl, which is not mixed with other substances, does not pose risks as seen in Mexico and other countries where it is used illicitly alongside synthetic drugs for recreational purposes.

The minister clarified that the fentanyl entering the country for medical purposes is well controlled by the Drug Directorate and is directly distributed to clinics, with no access for individuals to purchase it at pharmacies.

Rivera also highlighted the assistance program implemented by the Ministry of Public Health called “Ruta de la Salud” (Health Route). This program was developed based on a study revealing that 32% of the population suffers from high blood pressure, 12% have diabetes, and 70% are obese or overweight.

He mentioned that Monte Cristi has the highest prevalence of hypertension, with 50% of the population affected. As a result, the Health Route will focus on that region in the upcoming week.

The Health Route program provides the population with 35 different types of care, including check-ups, diagnostic tests, and treatments. Recent visits to Azua revealed a 37% prevalence of hyperglycemia in the population. However, through the treatments provided, the risks of cardiovascular events and heart attacks are being reduced.

Given the high levels of obesity in the Dominican population, the Health Route includes a one-hour walk as part of the program in different cities each week. This initiative aims to address the fact that 93% of people do not engage in regular physical exercise.

Jamaica has been at the forefront in the fight against HIV for years in the Caribbean and has seen progress in the reduction of new infections by 17 per cent between 2010 and 2022. However, AIDS deaths have increased gradually, year on year, since 2017.

Jamaica has an estimated 30,000 people living with HIV, which is equivalent to nine per cent of the HIV population in the Caribbean region. The national treatment cascade shows that about 91 per cent of people living with HIV know their status; but only 14,560 (or 49 per cent) of people living with HIV are on antiretroviral treatment.

Sadly, only 38 per cent of all people living with HIV are virally suppressed. Viral suppression rates increase with age, and children under 10 years are worse off, regardless of their sex. More females than males are accessing HIV treatment services. Therefore, a lot of effort is needed to have the 15,000 people not yet on treatment identified and linked to care and treatment. This is especially critical for our men and boys and key populations such as the gay community and other men who have sex with men, and transgender persons.

Pervasive stigma and discrimination have been identified as major barriers to accessing HIV-related services in the country.

The Jamaican Network of Seropositives reports from their latest Stigma Index 2.0 survey that over half (53 per cent) of people living with HIV experience enacted or self-stigma, which accentuates denial of their HIV status and could disempower them from accessing treatment services. Furthermore, stigma is experienced by a third of people living with HIV at the community leve,l and about 10 per cent experience HIV-related stigma from health-care personnel.

Key populations groups and civil society organisations have complained about how existing punitive laws contribute to the challenges some groups face in accessing available HIV prevention and treatment services. Civil society has called for legal and policy reforms and the passage of anti-discrimination legislation which protects all Jamaicans — regardless of their health status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

However, despite these challenges, the Government of Jamaica has provided strong leadership for the HIV response and has leveraged the strengths of civil society and the private sector to expand HIV services in support of the public sector HIV response. The Government is discussing with its multi-sectoral partners the need to integrate HIV programmes into the primary health-care system for sustainability and improved health at the community level. The integration of HIV programming with primary health care offers a great opportunity and hope for improved health and well-being. However, for this policy shift to be successful the integration must prioritise people-centred, differentiated service delivery and community-based services, and health-care workers must be trained and supported to deliver gender-sensitive and rights-based services.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is also piloting social contracting and implementing public-private initiatives to deliver high-quality, HIV-related services. These initiatives clearly demonstrate the Government's commitment to make the HIV response inclusive, multi-sectoral, and sustainable toward improved health outcomes. The ministry and the National Family Planning Board (NFPB) have collaborated with civil society and the network of people living with HIV to work together via the Global Partnership for Action to Eliminate all Forms of HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination. This joint effort helps to identify the inequality barriers and how to effectively address them, based on the available data. The recent launch by the Government of the HIV Champions for Change to fight stigma and discrimination is a demonstration of its commitment to eliminate societal stigma in Jamaica. Similarly, the Government of Jamaica has been assessed for possible validation for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. These are all signals that Jamaica is on the right path to ending AIDS as a public health threat— even if the pace needs to be turbocharged as Jamaicans are known for.

The Government must be congratulated for continuously securing HIV commodities for the treatment of its citizens from domestic resources. This is a clear departure from the situation in sub–Saharan Africa where most countries are dependent on The Global Fund and PEPFAR for their treatment programmes. The Government is encouraged to continue to provide exemplary political leadership, since it ensures efficiency and effectiveness as well as long-term sustainability of the HIV response. With sustained investment to eliminate inequality and inequity gaps to reduce HIV incidence and AIDS mortality, Jamaica stands to gain high economic and social returns on investments by maintaining its human capital and shielding its people against poverty and food insecurity, enabling them to financially support the education of their children, and contribute to a further reduction in deaths in children and maternal mortality.

Dr Richard Amenyah is a medical doctor from Ghana and a public health specialist. He is the director for the UNAIDS multi-country office in the Caribbean. You can reach him on Twitter at @RichardAmenyah or @UNAIDSCaribbean and jamaica@unaids.org