Under the order, all in-service doctors should be eligible for post-graduation and other special courses only when they have served in rural areas for at least two years.
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is witness to a major row over the government's fresh order making two years’ service in rural areas mandatory for doctors intending to go for higher studies.
Under it, all in-service doctors should be eligible for post-graduation and other special courses only when they have served in rural areas for at least two years.
The order is issued in a bid to resurrect the derelict rural health sector. Most of the doctors, who complete their MBBS, prefer to serve in the city hospitals citing poor infrastructure in the rural areas.
“The new law will provide big relief to the rural people. We are also planning incentives for doctors who will serve in the rural areas.
Fifteen bonus marks will be awarded to doctors intending to go abroad for higher education for each year's service in the rural sectors,” said KB Jindial, secretary health and medical education.
According to official figures, 5,239 doctors and 267 vaids/hakims are working in various health institutions and around 12,855 beds are available in health institutions in the state. About 3,698 health institutions are functional.
The government has also tightened noose on doctors who leave Kashmir on the pretext of pursuing higher education outside the state. Now on, no in-service doctors will be allowed to pursue higher studies outside if such courses are available in the state.
The government's decision has triggered massive dissension among doctors in Kashmir. “The government is treating the in-service doctors as slaves. Their higher education is being made conditional which is a violation of the legal rights of doctors,” said Dr Rashid Parra, spokesman of the Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK).
According to Syed Sajjad Hussain, president of J&K Junior Physicians Association, they want the doctors to serve in rural areas and provide basic health care to the masses. But they do not support the restrictions.
“It is a doctor's legal right to go for higher studies. They should serve in rural areas, but the government should not impose restricts on them,” Hussain said.
The Junior Doctors Association has convened a special meeting to discuss the issue and formulate a strategy to counter the government's order. “The government is forcing us to leave Kashmir,” said a junior doctor.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}