MCI rejects posting of docs in rural areas

NEW DELHI: Taking a stand against the proposed compulsory rural posting of doctors...

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

"That is not possible," Ketan Desai, Chairperson of MCI, told a press conference here when asked about the medical body's stand on the issue.

Desai said the MCI has already taken steps to increase the number of doctors in rural areas by helping to open more colleges in these areas.

"Out 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 urban areas like Delhi and Mumbai," he said.

However, he said, in the north-eastern states and hilly areas where it was not possible to get 25 acres land together, the MCI has requested the government to relax the norms.

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 adding, "Besides, these doctors do not get adequate infrastructure there to practice their skills." 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.