Doctors across the country have extended their support to a peaceful protest organised by the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) against what they claim to be an “illegal and irrational decision by a nominated ad hoc MCI which is forcing a compulsory posting of one year in villages for every young medical graduate in the country’’.
The protest march, which was held from Maulana Azad Medical College to Rajghat on Thursday, saw the participation of senior doctors and young medical graduates.
Explaining the reason behind the protest, Dr. Prem Aggarwal of the DMA said: “The whole medical fraternity is shocked that a nominated ad hoc MCI, which has no mandate to bring in a compulsory posting of one year in village for every medical graduate in the country, is now forcing this irrational decision on them.’’
“We strongly oppose this move and want to point it out to the Central Government that such a posting should not be compulsory and can only be voluntary for anybody. Also, the MCI does not have mandate to act on behalf of the Government for its administrative failures,’’ said Dr. Aggarwal.
Now, the group plans to take its demand forward by holding another dharna at the MCI office in Dwarka on August 8. And in case the MCI does not heed to their demands, they plan to start a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar after August 15.
K.K. Kohli of the DMA noted that the doctors have also submitted a memorandum to the MCI demanding that this scheme be made optional immediately. “It is a matter of deep concern for the entire medical profession that the MCI is trying to cover up the administrative failure of successive State and Central Governments in providing basic and adequate health care at the rural level and that cannot be overcome by spoiling the professional dignity and prolonging the learning career of young doctor,’’ said Dr. Kohli.
He added that a medical student spends a decade in becoming a qualified post-graduate doctor and, therefore, “adding one more year to that ordeal is a crime’’.
“The compulsory posting of one year of a young graduate in any way will not increase the quality of medical education in the country because most of the villages are devoid of basic services and medical infrastructure,’’ said Dr. Kohli. The DMA has requested the MCI to roll-back or make the rural posting proposal optional.
