Date:29/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/29/stories/2007112959840300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Junior doctors, students protest

HYDERABAD: Junior doctors and under-graduate students of the Gandhi Medical College and Government Hospital on Wednesday took up an hour-long token protest for a day at Gandhi campus on the Union Health Ministry’s recent decision to make one-year mandatory rural service after completion of MBBS degree.

Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had recently announced the tabling of a Bill favouring compulsory rural service for medical students. However, this did not go down well with the medicos, as the move would result in extending their MBBS course to six-and-a-half years.

“We want to make it very clear that we are not averse to working at rural outposts. However, we are requesting to include this one-year in the five-and-a-half-year period. Increasing the degree by one year becomes very tedious for us to complete graduation and then to pursue post-graduate degree,” said Dr. Y. Goutham, President for A.P. Medical Students Association, Gandhi Hospital chapter.

The junior doctors however made it a point to attend their regular work at hospital after staging the protest. “We reported to our normal duties. We do not intend to hinder medical facilities . We are also extending our support to other medicos who are fighting for the same cause in Tamil Nadu and New Delhi,” said Md. Imran, a junior doctor from the hospital.