Uttarakhand: Compulsory Rural postings for passouts of Doon Medical College

Dehradun: Medical Students joining Doon Medical College will have to be part of the state government initiative for working in the hills (rural tenure), as a compulsory part of the internship programme of the Medical College. This comes with the government's announcement that students passing out of Doon Medical college will have to sign a bond stating that they will work in the hills, otherwise they will not be given state registrations

Medical Education Minister, Dinesh Dhannai announced the state government’s decision, at the inauguration ceremony of the college.

"Students passing out of the college will be asked to sign a bond according to which they will have to work in the hills, otherwise their state registration will be cancelled. This move will cater to patients in the hills who are forced to travel to plains for treatment."

He further clarified, that the terms of the bond were still in the process of being worked out, and the time duration, the pass outs will have to spend in the hills, serving the population there, would soon be decided.

Over a 150 students have been enrolled in the five year MBBS course in the college, which will begin in October. Medical yardsticks for Doon entrants are to be stricter than those for other two government Medical Colleges; the first in Pauri District, Srinagar, and the other in Haldwani state.

The work status of doctors in the two other medical colleges, involves signing of a bond to serve in the hills, for a five year duration. In return for the services they render for the five years spent in the hills, they are granted fee subsidies and interest concession on education loans. Though violators are to be penalised, very seldom any action ensues. The penalty amount is- Rs. 30 lacs.

Meanwhile, closure of the Doon pathology lab at 12 noon instead of the designated 1.30 pm has led to a heated scene between the staff and patients at the hospital; leading to smashing of windows and chairs as well as hospital equipment. This clash had continued for a second day in a row.

The mob was angry because the hospital authorities had gone back on their earlier decision to collect samples till 1.30 pm and had pulled their shutters down at 12 noon.

Chairman of Uttarakhand, Medical Lab Association, Rakesh Rawat, said, "We are not against serving patients, all we are seeking is proper work environment and work rotation."

Issues took a serious turn on Saturday, when former Head of State AAP unit, Anoop Nautiyal, staged a protest outside the path lab, demanding improved facilities at the hospital.

"I have brought the issue to the notice of the Centre, as well as, the state government, but none of them is keen to do any good for the state," said Nautiyal.

He also expressed his opposition against the state government’s up gradation of Doon Hospital to a medical college, to Health Minister, JP Nadda, in a written complaint. His woe being that the up gradation has been done without making alternative provisions for a district hospital.