Rural stint for medicos to continue

Updated on: Wednesday, May 25, 2011

State medical education minister Rajkumar Gavit rejected doctors’ demand to do away with the bond for a one-year rural stint that students opting for postgraduate and super-specialty medical courses have to sign, reiterating the government’s firm stand on the issue. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, however, said that various incentives could be given to attract doctors to work in rural areas.

They were speaking at the NCP doctor cell’s statewide conference at the Ganesh Kala Krida auditorium in the city on Sunday. “The government may think of relaxing the condition of signing a bond from undergraduate (MBBS) students for rendering mandatory services in rural areas after the degree. But it is firm that no such relaxation will be granted to postgraduate students and those opting for super-specialty courses. For them, the condition of signing a bond for mandatory medical services of one year in rural areas will remain,” Gavit said.

According to a government resolution, it is compulsory for students seeking admission to medical courses to sign the bond. Moreover, a student has to pay bond money if he/ she wants to skip the mandatory one-year rural stint. Commenting on improvements needed in medical services in the rural areas, Pawar said that extending various incentives in the form of tax relaxation, loans at low interest rates and special provisions in education for the children of doctors who have worked for 10 years, among others can be thought upon to attract doctors to work in rural areas. “A meeting should soon be called to chalk out effective measures to improve healthcare services in rural areas,” Pawar said.

Replying to a plea by doctors to look into the protection of practising doctors, Pawar said, “The act to protect doctors from any kind of intimidation and violence has been formulated. Now it is the responsibility of the state home ministry to ensure its effective implementation.”

Pawar also spoke about reviving the concept of family doctors. “The need for family physicians is highly felt. We do require specialist and super-specialty doctors. But a family doctor, who identifies with the problems of a family, understands its family members and their interpersonal relationships, is extremely crucial in the current healthcare scenario.”

Minister of state for health, Fauzia Khan said, “Massive efforts are being taken to improve the health infrastructure in rural areas. The medical professionals from other branches of medicine, like unani, homeopathy and ayurveda, will also be absorbed into services at primary health centres and rural hospitals.”

Rural stint for medicos to continue

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