Doctors' Association for Social Equality

MBBS Course Duration should not be increased from 5 ½ Years to 6 ½ Years!
Don’t Abolish more than 31,000 Permanent Job opportunities of Doctors in the name of Compulsory Rural Service!

The Central Health and Family Welfare Ministry has decided to implement Compulsory Rural Service for the MBBS candidates through out India. For that it has decided to increase the MBBS Course Duration from 5 ½ Years (4 ½ Years Studies + 1 Year Internship) to 6 ½ Years (4 ½ Years Studies + 1 Year Internship + 1 Year Compulsory Temporary Service). It has planned to pay Rs.8,000/- per month as stipend for the Compulsory Service.

If the scheme is implemented it will affect the job opportunities of young doctors. At present more that 31,000 doctors are coming out after completing their degrees from 262 Medical Colleges across the country. Within 10 Years the number will increase to 40,000. If the Government puts them all in Compulsory Service it will abolish the Permanent Job Opportunities of young doctors.

Eventhough the title of the scheme is mentioned as, Compulsory Rural Service, it is not so. During the One Year Compulsory Service the doctors will be posted for 4 months in District Head Quarters Hospitals, 4 Months in Taluk Head Quarters Hospitals which are situated in Urban Areas. They will be posted in Primary Health Centres for another 4 Months. Most of the period they will be working in Urban Hospitals. So, it is not a Rural Service, it is a Compulsory Service that’s all. So the aim of the service is to fill all vacancies at Government Hospitals by posting Young Doctors on Compulsory Temporary Rotatory basis. This Compulsory Service will abolish job opportunities and it will be against social justice.

For implementing the Compulsory Service increasing MBBS Course duration will cause the following adverse effects.

1. The Course duration will be made as a prolonged one.
2. It will be against social justice since SC/ST/OBC Candidates cannot go for long duration studies.
3. It will be against the interest of the poor and middle class students who receive education loans from banks.
4. It will be against the interest of the female candidates.
5. To become a full fledged specialized doctor it will take atleast 12 Years (5 ½ Years MBBS + 3 Years PG + 3 Years Super Speciality)
6. Because of the Break System prevailing in the MBBS Course Large number of students from Rural Areas who studied in Mother Tongue could not complete their courses within 5 Years. So, if the course duration is increased by another one year it will be a burden for the rural students.

Alternatives


1. More Medical Colleges should be started immediately in North, North-Eastern States. Orissa, Bihar and other states were medical colleges are not adequate.
2. During MBBS Admissions 25% seats should be given to the Rural Students after getting assurance that they will work in their area for a minimum period of 5 Years.
3. Doctors salary should be increased
4. More incentives should be given to doctors working in Rural Areas.
5. Special Quotas should be given in the PG Seats for Rural Doctors
6. 50% of PG Seats should be reserved for Government Doctors through out the country including in All India Quota Seats, AIIMS, JIPMER and Other Premier Institutes.
7. Special Rural Service marks should be added to the PG Entrance Exam Marks to the doctors working in rural areas.
8. Priority should be given in promotion to the doctors working in rural areas.
9. Proper housing, transport facilities and schooling facilities for the children of doctors working in rural areas to be provided.
10. During appointment local Rural Areas doctors should be given preference for that areas hospitals after getting assurance that they will work there for a minimum period of 5 Years.
11. PG Seats should be increased and it should be started in all Government Medical Colleges immediately.
12. In some places doctors are not attending the PHCs and Hospitals regularly. Peoples Monitoring Committee which includes elected peoples representatives, doctors and other hospital employees should be setup in every hospitals to rectify the irregularities.
13. Interest Free Special loans should be provided by the Nationalized Banks to the doctors starting Small Hospitals in Rural Areas.
14. Free Land, Electricity and other Concession should be given to the small hospitals in rural areas.
15. Cooperative Medical Care Facilities, hospitals should be started in Rural Areas.
16. Rural Area Hospitals’ Infrastructure and other facilities should be increased
17. More Fund should be allocated for health.
18. Short Duration Courses (3 Years) should be started if necessary to provide Primary Medical Care for Rural people wherever MBBS Graduates are not available.
19. If Compulsory Service is needed for the benefit of the people, Full Pay and all benefits of Government Doctors should given, and if the candidates like their services should be regularized. This rights should be given to the states. States can decide according to their needs.

Yours truly,

Dr. G.R. Ravindranath

General Secretary – DAS