Doctors' Association for Social Equality

From http://in.news.yahoo.com/071101/211/6mpo4.html

Six-year-old Prakash’s parents came to Mumbai all the way from Rewa in Madhya Pradesh to get him treated for an acute heart problem. But, inspite of taking an appointment for Thursday, they were asked to come back later as resident doctors across Maharashtra's medical colleges were on a strike.

“We have been asked to come later, now we don't have money for all this,” Prakash's mother, Seema Manglani said.

Mumbai witnessed many banner-wielding agitators on Thursday but they certainly did not conform to the image of compassionate doctors. The agitating doctors were protesting against the government's decision to impose compulsory rural internships for every course after MBBS.

According to the new course guidelines, three years of internship is required after post graduation and five years internship after super specialisation, increasing the total education time to 22 years.

However, doctors say rural hospitals are not equipped enough to afford them satisfactory practice.

"If government doesn’t have infrastructure at municipal and basic levels how is it telling that infrastructure is waiting for us there,” member of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Vasant said.

Like every other citizen the doctor also has the right to follow a profession of his choice the way he wants to, but the corollary is – what about the patients' right to a normal and healthy life?

(With inputs from Aruna Ramesh)