IMA against govt proposal of medical courses for rural areas

Updated on: Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Indian Medical Association has expressed fears that the proposal for rural medical course would divide health professionals into rural and urban regions.

The IMA has alleged that the move would also harm the basic health facilities in the country. National president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr Vinay Aggrawal said, while inaugurating the 'Mastacon-2011', 51st annual conference organised by the state chapter of IMA.

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is pressing for 3.5-year short-term medical course, which aims to raise a new cadre of health workers who will exclusively serve in rural and backward areas. However, criticising the move, Dr Aggarwal said there this would lead to creation of two types of doctors one from rural area, who would practice as a doctor after completing a three and a half year course, while the other from urban area, who would have a four year and a half year course to his credit.

"The rural doctors are prohibited to perform any surgery or emergency treatment. In such cases, they have to refer the patient to the urban doctors, which is very strange," he said. He stated that the government aims to open 300 medical colleges for the three and half year degree courses. "But, why can't the government open medical colleges that offer MBBS degree of four and half years, instead of making imperfect doctors with three and half year degree. Thus, the policy reflects bad governance."

He pointed out that the Primary Health Centers(PHC) in the country are suffering due to non-availability of basic infrastructure like building, medicines, etc.

IMA against govt proposal of medical courses for rural areas

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