Doctors across the country have extended their support to a peaceful protest organised by the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) against what they claim to be an “illegal and irrational decision by a nominated ad hoc MCI which is forcing a compulsory posting of one year in villages for every young medical graduate in the country’’.
The protest march, which was held from Maulana Azad Medical College to Rajghat on Thursday, saw the participation of senior doctors and young medical graduates.
Explaining the reason behind the protest, Dr. Prem Aggarwal of the DMA said: “The whole medical fraternity is shocked that a nominated ad hoc MCI, which has no mandate to bring in a compulsory posting of one year in village for every medical graduate in the country, is now forcing this irrational decision on them.’’
“We strongly oppose this move and want to point it out to the Central Government that such a posting should not be compulsory and can only be voluntary for anybody. Also, the MCI does not have mandate to act on behalf of the Government for its administrative failures,’’ said Dr. Aggarwal.
Now, the group plans to take its demand forward by holding another dharna at the MCI office in Dwarka on August 8. And in case the MCI does not heed to their demands, they plan to start a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar after August 15.
K.K. Kohli of the DMA noted that the doctors have also submitted a memorandum to the MCI demanding that this scheme be made optional immediately. “It is a matter of deep concern for the entire medical profession that the MCI is trying to cover up the administrative failure of successive State and Central Governments in providing basic and adequate health care at the rural level and that cannot be overcome by spoiling the professional dignity and prolonging the learning career of young doctor,’’ said Dr. Kohli.
He added that a medical student spends a decade in becoming a qualified post-graduate doctor and, therefore, “adding one more year to that ordeal is a crime’’.
“The compulsory posting of one year of a young graduate in any way will not increase the quality of medical education in the country because most of the villages are devoid of basic services and medical infrastructure,’’ said Dr. Kohli. The DMA has requested the MCI to roll-back or make the rural posting proposal optional.
Also, each year about 40,000 doctors graduate, and the number is
expected to increase each year. By posting these doctors to the
primary health center's in rural areas, the government is getting
cheap, forced labor(as we will only be on temporary service for one
year). Each year new graduates will take our place. the government
doesn't want to provide permanent jobs to doctors. Open permanent jobs
in rural areas, and doctors will be willing to serve there. This is a
purely political motive of the government to increase their vote-bank
in this election year. The doctors are being blamed for the
administrative failure. I read a news, that Patna medical college and
hospital doesn't have the equipment and drugs in the Pediatric ICU. If
these things were their in the hospital many children of "MID-DAY MEAL
Tragedy" could have been saved. when this is the condition of a
tertiary care setup, what can be expected of a primary health center??
Why only doctors...? Why should engineers and teachers be exempted from rural
service...rural area needs not only medical services but also infrastructure and education...let
the engineers be also posted in villages and let them build the infrastructure and let teachers
be posted in villages and let them teach students before they join a private school or govt
service...will they be ready to do that...doctors are not saints...they also have life and
family..after 6 years in MBBS they have to prepare for MD and then super specialisation
without which they don't get an approval in the society..without proper infra how can doctors
practice in rural areas...? Govt wants to send a fresh graduate for a pay of 8000 per month in
the name of rural service..even a coolie cannot sustain his life with that income...let the
gentleman who wrote the previous comment work for the upliftment of rural areas for a pay
of 8000 per month..why can't govt post regular doctors for rural areas...?
First of all, we, "THE NOBLE PROFESSIONALS" are not against serving
the most under served population of the country. We are willing to
serve the rural areas, provided each health center to be first
inspected by a team of health professionals and a doctor to be posted
there only if it fulfills all the criteria set by MCI(as a doctor cant
do much by himself if basic life saving drugs and equipment's are not
available). Secondly, MBBS is the longest course in the country, why
add one more year? We are ready to work in rural areas if the posting
is done during MBBS or during post-graduation. Making rural posting of
1 year an eligibility criteria for PG entrance exam violates the
fundamental right to educate. (why aren't IAS officers, Engineers,
Lawyers, etc. have to do compulsory rural posting? Aren't they
supposed to serve the people of India?) Our demand is to make the
posting voluntary & incentive to be provided for the same. These
demands were submitted to the MCI in our memorandum.
@Shubh Singh, Sir the protest was not to oppose the rural posting, doctors are willing to go to the villages but just sending them to the villages will not change anything until there is proper facilities and infrastructure, doctors will just be beaten up in the villages. Sir its easy to say something when you do not know the truth when the consequences does not effect you.
Completely agree with Mr.Singh that people appear to have forgotten that medicine is supposed to be a vocation. I wish the medical councils will have the guts to protest about doctors who receive a salary to work in the PHCs are invariably absent citing lack of facilities. Who is to blame?
To the previous person who commented "Shubh Singh".
The govt on India signed an agreement with World Bank called
"Generalized agreement on Trade in Services" making health and education
as a commodity and not a service..It is the government who is doing all
the misdeeds...
Its a shame that doctors of this country have made this procession a business, rootless, ruthless, exploitative and unsustainable. Its should be their duty to serve the most under served areas but they simply refuse because that will hurt their profile and comfort. If they don't want to visit villages then why they opposed well thought "degree in rural medicine". They want to exploit all, by all means and don't want anyone else share the pie. Horrible state of this country.it will go even worst if the government does not step in and check all miss deeds of these "noble professionals"(please find the sarcasm).
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