Why one year compulsory rural posting before PG is not the answer

1. There are one lakh doctors waiting for PGs in the country for only 12000 PG seats as per IMA.

2. As per an RTI only less than 3000 posts are vacant in rural areas.

3. It will lead to capitation fee in rural service and will add to the already high corruption in the medical profession.

4. Another one year of medical study will add to more misery for the students.

5. Safety of female students will be compromised.

6. Why can’t the PG exam take place along with the final MBBS exam or mid way in internship after you finish 6 months clinical postings. Rest six months and first six months of PG can be a rural posting and the exam of PG can be linked to rural posting experiences.

Survey by Medical Students Association of India, participated by 11727 students, with 8963 medical students, 6451 males.

1. 99% do not agree with the government proposal.

2. 79% want government to cancel the move.

3. None of them said that they oppose to serve in the rural areas but do not want to link it to education entry.

4. 32% said that this move will lead to one more additional year to waste.

5. 19% said that the infrastructure is not ripe for rural postings at this age.

6. 15% said that the family cannot afford one more year of study.

7. 4% said that they are getting old and cannot afford additional year of posting.

8. 4% said that rural posting is not incentive-based.

9. 58% said that even if they were paid double the amount they would not accept a rural posting

10. 92% said that the government should first infuse money and make the infrastructure better.

11. 92% said that after one year of rural service, it will be too late to join PG.

12. Over 70% said that making it a six-month posting will not matter.

Delhi Medical Association to protest against one year compulsory rural posting

In anticipation of a likely notification of Medical Council of India making one year rural posting compulsory for doctors who are aspiring to do post graduation, Delhi Medical Association is organizing a Dharna on 8^th August, 2013 Thursday outside MCI premises at Dwarka.

A high level Indian Medical Association meeting was held which had representatives from Delhi Medical Association and also medical students, interns and non PG residents.

The Medical Association is demanding that they are not against doctors working in rural areas but they do not want rural posting to be linked to entry to medical education. It can be linked to promotions or new appointments in government jobs.

The Association is planning to have a Dharna of 1 to 4 thousand people on that day.

Dr. Devi Shetty, Former Member, Board of Governors, MCI has also called an All India Students Convention on 29^th July in his native place on the same subject. He is providing free lodging and travel to student leaders to come and attend the convention which is likely to announce its next strategy.

The Medical Association said that there are 40000 students who pass MBBS every year and there are only 25000 for the rural postings. Making rural postings compulsory cannot be the right answer as the government does not have 40000 jobs. If rural posting is made compulsory all 40000 of them will have to apply for the same and if they do not find enough jobs, there will be chaos in the medical profession.