New Delhi: At present, the union government is not considering any proposal for mandatory internship for medical professionals in rural and remote areas. Health being a state subject, provision of healthcare facilities falls under the jurisdiction of respective state governments. The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Mr Faggan Singh Kulaste stated this in a written reply in the Parliament.
However, to encourage doctors working in remote and difficult areas, the Medical Council of India (MCI) with the previous approval of central government, has amended the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000.
Although internship for medicos in rural India has not been made mandatory but has benefits which can make them choose it without any pressure.
The amendments provide 50 percent reservation in Post Graduate Diploma Courses for medical officers in the government service, who have served for at least three years in remote and difficult areas. It also provides incentive at the rate of 10 percent the marks obtained for each year in service in remote or difficult areas as upto the maximum of 30 percent of the marks obtained in the entrance test for admissions in Post Graduate Medical Courses.
Further, under, National Health Mission (NHM), financial incentive is also provided to MBBS as well as PG doctors for serving in the rural areas. These incentives are over and above the salaries of the doctors concerned.
