Medicos to shell out huge penalty for skipping rural service

The fine imposed on the graduate and post graduate medical students who decide to skip their mandatory rural service will increase manifold from next year. The penalty will go up to Rs 10 lakh for MBBS students, Rs 15 lakh for PG diploma students and Rs 25 lakh for PG students from 2017.

“Even though the High Court has ordered a stay on the mandatory rural service, the 2006 rural service bond will hold good. According to this bond, the fine for MBBS doctors is Rs 1 lakh, Rs 3 lakh for diploma students and Rs 25 lakh for PG holders” Health Minister U T Khader said at a press meet here on Thursday. But, those willing to serve in rural areas can always do so, he added.

MBBS graduates, post graduates and super speciality degree holders would be paid consolidated pay of Rs 40,000, Rs 43,000 and Rs 46,000 per month respectively. “The state faces a shortage of 257 doctors and 940 specialists. Candidates selected through the Karnataka Public Service Commission will join duty next month after counselling. The deputy commissioners of all districts have been directed to recruit doctors on a contract basis whenever required,” the minister said.

Doctors who are willing to serve on contractual basis in Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur, Ballari, Gadag and Yadgir would be paid Rs 1.2 lakh every month. In the other districts, they will be paid Rs one lakh, the minister said.

Doctors on call

The department of Health and Family Welfare, grappling with  manpower shortage, would soon recruit doctors to work on a ‘on-call’ basis. This, the officials hope would help address the shortage of experts.

Khader said that those interested to serve as ‘on-call’ doctors, should register their names with the department.  These doctors would be expected to work for two days a week and they would be paid Rs 10,000 a month. Besides, gynaecologists and pediatricians would paid Rs 2,000 and anesthetists get Rs 1,000 for every case they attend.