Even as the Union Government’s proposal to increase the duration of the MBBS course to include one-year compulsory rural service is snowballing into a controversy across  the country, medical students in Karnataka have come out with a suggestion - as the proposed one year rural service has been divided into three stages - four months each at the district level, taluk level and village level - include the four month service at the village level in the present five and a half year MBBS course.

Medical student organisations in the State point out they are not against rural postings, but the extension of an already lengthy professional programme. “The actual rural internship in the proposed Bill is for four months as the remaining eight months are at the district and taluk level. These eight months cannot be called rural service. We are ready to put four months rural service in the present MBBS schedule” Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, General Secretary Shivakumar said.

Another student Abhijit wonders why the Centre is rushing through the legislation. “After medical students in Tamil Nadu staged a protest against the move the Centre constituted a committee headed by Dr Sambashiva Rao to look into the subject. But even before the committee could submit its report the Centre has decided to take up legislation”, he alleged.

Another point of concern for the students is that if the rule comes into place, rural health services would suffer, and doctors would be eventually be replaced by trainees.

The starting salary in the State for doctors is Rs 18,000 per annum. However, if the Bill is passed, the medicos will be appointed only as trainees. Trainees get a stipend of Rs 8000 per month.

Quality is another issue. “If we send a totally fresh graduate, who has no prior experience, to a primary health centre in a village he or she will not be of much help. If the intention is to provide quality medical service in rural areas this is not the way”, says Dr K M Srinivasa Gowda, former registrar, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.

BONDED DOCS
In Karnataka, students who have opted medical seats in government colleges are required to sign a bond that they would serve one year at a primary health centre in rural area. This policy was first introduced in 2004. The first batch of students who have signed these bonds will pass out in 2009. Default would cost them Rs 1 lakh.