Doctors from AIIMS, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College in Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Maulana Azad Medical College and University College of Medical Sciences staged a massive protest at Jantar Mantar on Thursday against the government’s decision to make one-year rural posting compulsory for medicos applying for postgraduation entrance and demanded that the rural posting be made part of postgraduation.
The police used water cannons to disperse the crowd.
The doctors said that if at all the rural posting was to be introduced before postgraduation, then it should be made voluntary and not be an eligibility criterion for applying for PG courses.
The doctors said they were willing to serve in rural areas, but expressed concern over poor infrastructure and lack of basic facilities.
“There are no proper labs to carry out investigations in primary health centres. There are also no attendants or nurses. Moreover, safety of female doctors in rural areas is a concern,” said a doctor.
They also demanded that the number of undergraduate and postgraduate level medical seats be made equal.
A delegation met Union health secretary Keshav Desiraju, who said their demands would be re-looked with a “broader perspective,” the doctors said.