Karnataka: Health department comes up with new rules for doctors pursuing higher education

Bengaluru: After facing backlash, the Health and Family Welfare Department has issued new rules for doctors on their higher education. 

Doctors choosing to pursue postgraduate courses such as DNB or diploma must work in the speicific department for at least 10 years and should give an undertaking, as per the order issued by the department. 

Doctors will pay a fine to the government if they fail to complete the course in the stipulated time, maintain logbooks or meet the
benchmark set by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). 

The order also stipulated that doctors must provide certificates validating that they meet the NBEMS standards to avail the monthly incentives. 

The department also ordered including treatment for Non-Priority Households (NPHH) diagnosed with secondary complications caused by rare diseases. 

The patients will be registered with the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Bengaluru using the existing benefit packages under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) scheme. 

NPHH cardholders are currently covered for 30% of the package cost under the ABArK scheme, which shall now be extended to full coverage. 

The Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) has been directed to enforce this order on a pilot basis, subject to an overall ceiling of Rs 1 crore. 

Currently, the Centre offers Rs 50 lakh for people diagnosed with rare diseases.