The Supreme Court on Friday said it did not cancel the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024 examination for admission to medical courses amid concerns of paper leak because there was no systematic breach of its sanctity.

The bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra said the National Testing Agency (NTA) must stop its flip-flop which was noticed this year as it does not serve the interest of students.

Young doctors that The Telegraph Online spoke to said the exams mess has only contributed one more layer of uncertainty to the long and demanding process of becoming a physician in India.

“Today even if I sit for NEET PG there will not be any assurance that I will get a government job or not,” said Dr Debleena Mallick, a 2021 pass-out from Awadh Dental College and Hospital, Jamshedpur, who runs a clinic in Bengal’s Bankura. “Now if anybody comes and asks me about a career in BDS [Bachelor of Dental Surgery] I just tell them to choose any other field but do not do BDS.”

She is not the only one complaining.

“Even after 4 years of the pandemic, the PG [postgrad] entrance exams and their counselling are getting delayed by six-10 months every year. The reservation system adds another layer of complexity, often leading to intensified competition and stress among candidates,” said Dr. Nishtha Gupta, a 2023 MBBS pass-out from KCGMC Karnal.

Dr. Srishti Singh Gaur, a 2024 MBBS from PGIMS, Rohtak, said she was already disillusioned.

“Most of us were not even 18 when we joined the noble profession of saving lives. Everyone said it's going to cost you your youth, but nobody told us it's gonna be much more expensive in terms of exploitation, lack of respect, lack of gratitude, and long-standing childhood dreams being shunned countless times,” she said.

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Young doctors often start their careers in hospitals that are overcrowded and under-resourced. Quite a few young doctors said the limited hands-on training during their education leaves many feeling unprepared for real-world medical practice.

Long working hours, insufficient sleep and constant exposure to patient suffering contribute to burnout, anxiety, and depression.

“The environment in the so-called med school was not at all that cool as we imagined as NEET UG aspirants,” said Dr Bhawana Ahlawat, a 2024 MBBS from PGIMS Rohtak who works as a surgeon in the same college.

“Sometimes we were forced to do the clerical stuff that leaves less time for clinical learning, patient interaction, and medical procedures. The government's repeated delays of NEET PG exams added to our uncertainty. And still, we have no clue how fair the exam is going to be,” she said.

Doctors working in rural areas and tier II cities face a different set of challenges, including competition from unqualified practitioners.

These impostors, who often prescribe inappropriate treatments, contribute to rising issues like antibiotic resistance, young doctors say. Doctors in these areas struggle to convince patients of the dangers posed by such quacks and frequently face blame for deteriorating patient conditions.

The introduction of a biometric attendance system has added a layer of stress. Doctors say they often miss their attendance times due to emergency duties, resulting in potential financial penalties.

The need for re-registration when moving between states contributes to their administrative and financial burdens, they say, making their already demanding profession even more challenging.

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“We might be busy in the OT at 6 pm and therefore we might miss our attendance time at 5:30 as we can't leave the patient in the OT for the sake of our attendance. Patient care comes first but then this also results in the loss of pay,” said Dr Chandreyee Pal, 2023 MBBS from Aarupadai Veedu Medical College, Pondicherry.

In under-resourced areas, patient interactions turn out to be especially difficult. A junior resident doctor working at Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital highlighted challenges in managing patient expectations, particularly when the hospital's limited ICU beds were full.

The doctor also pointed out that the presence of middlemen spreading false information added to the chaos, often leading to undue blame on doctors.

“I often find patients who carry iPhones to the clinic complaining about the fee here,” said Dr. Sanchalika Saha, a 2023 passout from MCODS Mangalore, currently practising in Siliguri, Bengal.

Junior dentists working under senior doctors often are underpaid and exploited, a few doctors said.