No rural posting: DASE

Chennai: Representatives of medical students, IMA and Doctors’ Association for Social Equality (DASE) have been demanding over the last few weeks that the Centre should withdraw its proposal of compulsory one-year rural posting for MBBS doctors who are aspiring to pursue PG.

DASE again sought to know why the government could not make rural service permanent instead of making it compulsory. “MBBS doctors who wish to pursue post-graduation should compulsorily work in rural areas for one year. We are ready to do so, but we need permanent posts,” said Prashanth, secretary, Tamil Nadu Medical Students Asso­ciation.

G.R. Ravidranath, DASE general secretary, said that there are 366 medical colleges in India. “If this rural posting is made mandatory, then every year these doctors will serve primary health centres and their juniors will do the same. 

“If this situation prevails, then there will not be any permanent jobs,” he said. 

Instead of five-and-a-half years, students have to spend six-and-a-half years now. “How many women will come forward to spend 6.5 years,” he asked. He also said the government is planning to bring in ‘Exit test’.

“Where is the need for exit test when students are studying only in those colleges approved by MCI?” he said.