Govt. to Provide Quota in PG Courses for Doctors Working in Rural Areas
The minimum duration to serve as doctors or medical officers in rural areas is three years.
With an objective to encourage doctors to render their services in rural areas, the government is planning to provide a special reservation for them in the PG courses.
The issue was raised in Lok Sabha on March 17, 2017, and Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Health clarified that the government has plans to bring Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill to make sure that 50% of PG medical seats in government colleges are reserved for students who serve as medical officers in rural areas. The minimum duration to serve as doctors or medical officers in rural areas is three years.
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He further added that as per the Bill, the candidates who complete PG medical course will be asked to serve for three more years, in remote or rural areas. Mr. Faggan Singh expressed that there has been no report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the recent past. It clearly indicates that the rural population in India has minimal access to healthcare in the country.
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If the reservation in PG medical seats for doctors in rural areas comes into effect, more students who complete MBBS or UG medical courses will show interest in opting for PG medical courses. On the other hand, people living in rural areas across the country will get access to required medical services. Therefore, the government is hopeful to turn this proposal into reality and encourage more MBBS graduates to take up PG medical courses.