There will be no extension of the five-year MBBS, nor will there be a mandatory rural posting as part of the course, according to a statement released by the Union Health Minster Ghulam Nabi Azad.
The Minister’s office released the statement after his meeting with agitating medical students here. “The Minister has directed officials of the Medical Council of India to keep in abeyance the notification in respect of one-year mandatory rural posting of PHC after completion of MBBS, before they seek admission to PG Course…,” read the statement. A letter to this effect was sent to the MCI.
The statement said this was intended to set at rest all speculation that the duration of MBBS was extended by two years along with the mandatory rural posting. “There is no such proposal,” was the statement.
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The Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum strongly condemned lathi-charge and tear-gassing that the police resorted to on Wednesday against the protesting students.
The absence of training infrastructure (manpower and material) to handle MBBS students in rural areas and safety of women students in the absence of hostels were some of the reasons cited for the students not wanting to be posted in rural areas.
Strike called offADVERTISEMENT
PTI adds: Striking Senior Resident doctors and medical students of top Delhi hospitals, including AIIMS, called off their agitation following Mr. Azad’s assurance.