Doctors' Association for Social Equality

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New Delhi: Taking a stand against the proposed compulsory rural posting of doctors, the Medical Council of India (MCI) on Friday said it was not feasible as it would lengthen the existing medical education course.

“That is not possible,’’ MCI chairperson Ketan Desai told a newsmen here. Desai said the MCI has already taken steps to increase the number of doctors in rural areas by helping to open more colleges there. “Of the 113 colleges which have come up since 1997, 101 have been set up in rural areas. This has been done by making it mandatory for all new colleges to have a minimum of 25 acres of land which is not possible in areas like Delhi and Mumbai,’’ he said.

Opposing the rural posting, he said a doctor needs at least 12 years to complete his training. “So it is not feasible to increase it by one more year,’’ he said. The health minister has proposed a compulsory rural posting for doctors after completing MBBS and before taking up post-graduation to address the shortage of heathcare workers in rural areas. AGENCIES