The State government has notified rules making one-year rural service mandatory for medical students. Violating this will cost them their medical degree, besides a penalty ranging between Rs. 15 lakh and Rs. 30 lakh.
The Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Courses (Counselling, Allotment and Certification) Rules, 2015, is applicable to State-run colleges and government-quota students in private medical colleges.
Minister of State for Medical Education Sharanprakash Patil, on Tuesday, clarified that medical students cannot escape by paying a fine alone. “If they fail to comply with the provisions of the Bill, besides asking them to pay penalty, their certificates will be withheld. Henceforth, MBBS would be a six-and-half year course, including the one-year rural service,” he said.
According to Mr. Patil, as the government notified rules on July 24, rural service will not be applicable for those who graduated this academic year. The Bill, however, is applicable to a batch of 2,700 students with 500 specialists, who will be completing their course in October.
The penalty will be more for students studying under the Common Entrance Test quota and less for those who get seats under management quota.
“With framing of rules, all problems related to shortage of doctors in government hospitals in district, taluk and interior rural parts will be addressed. We are planning to make use of the services of excess medical graduates in institutions of medical education. I will discuss the issue with Minister for Health U.T. Khader,” Mr. Patil said.
