In a move that will eventually reduce the shortage of doctors in the country, the government is considering to relax norms for increasing post-graduate seats in the medical colleges along with one-year internship in rural areas.
Sources in the health ministry revealed that in a meeting slated to happen on Friday between Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and the Medical Council of India (MCI) board, the government is proposing to relax the norms by altering the ratio of teachers to students. While, at present the ratio exists at 1:2, the ministry is proposing to increase it to 1:3 for certain specialities like oncology, cardiology, gynaecology, medicine, surgery, anesthesia radiology. “The ratio has been proposed to be altered so that more seats can be added,” sources said adding that the ministry will discuss the proposals with the MCI board after which a final decision will be taken.
The ministry has also proposed “one-year internship” in rural areas. Sources in the MCI said that the agenda sent by the ministry however is “not clear about the said posting as to whether it would be an added one year for rural areas or just compulsory rural posting. The modalities will have to be looked into,” sources added. Along with this, the government has also proposed a PPP “with inbuilt safeguards”.
All these proposed norms, will be discussed alongside the “much awaited” Bachelor of Rural Health Care Course (BRHCC). Proposed during the tenure of then president Ketan Desai, the course is yet to be implemented. It was unanimously endorsed by all states during the state health ministers meet earlier this year.