The State government is contemplating to award degrees to medical students, only after they put in two years of rural service, Medical Education Minister V S Acharya informed the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Presently, candidates who opt for government quota medical seats give an undertaking that they would serve in rural areas. However, the government is yet to take steps to put the same to effect.

Replying to a question raised by B C Patil (JD-S), the minister said same rule will also be applicable for students who opt for PG seats, wherein mandatory rural service will be for one year, he said.

“We are studying the scheme implemented by Tamil Nadu and other states. We plan to usher in the scheme in the State this year itself”, he said.

Replying to a query, Dr Acharya said there were 709 posts of medical officers vacant in various hospitals in the State. The government had taken steps to fill 250 posts and the process to recruit 250 more doctors in the second phase is currently in progress.