Doctors, don’t like rural service? Get out!

Compulsory one year rural service after Medical PG applies only in State. New Bill in this regard tabled in Karnataka Assembly. No changes in fines for refusing rural service.

The mandatory one year rural posting imposed by the Karnataka Government on medical graduates, has had its share of debates. Those avoiding the rural postings had to pay fines of Rs 1 lakh for MBBS graduates, Rs 3 lakhs for Medical Diploma holders and Rs 25 lakhs for MD graduates. Several medical graduates willingly paid up the fines rather than going to rural regions to serve for an year. The High Court had even questioned the righteousness of imposing such fines.

Now, the State government has made it mandatory for all medical graduates to serve in the rural regions for a period of 1 year, if they wish to take up medical practice in the State. This rule does not apply to those wishing to serve outside the State, announced Medical Education Minister Dr Sharana Prakash Patil in the Assembly, on Wednesday. This applies to MBBS, Medical Diploma, MD, MS and other post graduate courses.

Hitherto the rural posting was considered a part of the training. Henceforth, it has been changed to service in the Bill. This enables the medical graduates to independently practice.  The graduates to take up this service will be issued temporary posting letters. After the completion of one year, the candidates have to register fresh for practicing.

In case a candidate gets admitted to MD immediately after completion of MBBS, such candidate can take up mandatory rural posting after the completion of post graduation. The candidates who complete the course will be given the degree certificate irrespective of taking up rural service, to enable them to opt to serve outside the State. With this, all confusion with regard to rural service by medical graduates has been put to rest, compiling with orders of the High Court.

There is no mention of fines in the new revised Bill.