Ramadoss backs off, MBBS course will not be extended

NEW DELHI: After raising a storm over the issue of rural postings for MBBS students, Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss has now backtracked. The minister “clarified” there was no proposal to extend the duration of the MBBS course and the rural postings will have to be completed within the present  five-and-a-half-year duration.

Ramadoss also did a U-turn on his announcement that the new rules would be applicable from the coming session and said the matter is undecided.  The minister had earlier said the government was planning to make rural duty compulsory for graduates.

According to the proposal, doctors were to be given a temporary registration with the MCI until they served in a rural area. The proposal resulted in massive protests.

However, his clarification has created further confusion as students wonder how rural postings will be accommodated. An MBBS student spends three months in a rural area, two months each in medicines, surgery orthopaedics, gynaecology, obstetrics and family planning, 15 days in paediatrics, one month in ophthalmology and ENT etc.