COIMBATORE: Medical fraternity, including doctors and students, have strongly opposed the move of the Centre and the Medical Council of India to extend the course duration of the MBBS by one more year from the present five-and-a-half years. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the MCI are contemplating to increase the duration of the course. The aim is to make a one-year rural service compulsory under the course and discussions over amending the MCI Act are under way in this regard. Even though the proposal is at the planning stage, doctors and medicos have expressed their apprehensions. The Doctors Association for Social Equality, has strongly condemned the Centre and Medical Council of India’s proposal to increase the course duration. G R Ravindranath, general secretary of the association said: “This will adversely affect the students. Already it is a lengthy course. In today’s situation, just MBBS degree alone will not be enough. Students have to complete a Post Graduate medical course also. The increase in the duration of MBBS course will burden the students.” He further said: “Because of the break system, students are taking seven-eight years to complete the medical course. If this proposal is introduced, SC/ST and women students, those from ordinary family background and first generation learners will be alienated from the medical education. This move will make medical education affordable only to elite section of the society.” “In states like TN, there is no dearth of doctors in rural areas. Doctors are available in rural PHCs. So, there is no need for a compulsory rural service,” he said. “This will also adversely affect the employment opportunity of young doctors. Hence, the Centre should repeal this proposal immediately. Otherwise, medical students will go on a country-wide protest,” he warned. “Earlier, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad assured 50 per cent additional salary for those who come forward to work in rural areas. He also suggested special reservation in PG admission for those doing rural service. But, these things were not implemented. If they were implemented properly, then there will be no need for this proposal and government will get doctors to work in rural areas,” he felt. Medical students in Coimbatore also raised their apprehensions over the proposal to increase the duration. “In Tamil Nadu, doctors who complete two years service in rural areas were given preference in post graduate admissions. This new proposal will definitely affect the students’ interest in this field,” opined an MBBS student in Coimbatore. IMA, Coimbatore Branch president, S Karthick Prabhu said, “If the government gives some benefits to students, then they will come forward to work in rural areas.”
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