Govt proposes 50 pc reservation in PG seats for doctors having served 3 years in rural areas

New Delhi: The Health Ministry as part of a draft Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bil,2016 has proposed 50% reservation of seats for post graduate courses in government colleges for those who have served at least three years in government healthcare institutions in remote and difficult areas.

The draft proposal of Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill,2016 reads as follows:

"Upto 50% of the seats in Post Graduate Courses in Government Colleges may be reserved by the appropriate State Governments/UTs for Medical Officers in the Government services, who have served for at least three years in remote and difficult areas. After acquiring the PG Degree, the Medical Officers may further be required to serve for a period up to three years in remote and/or difficult areas by the State Governments/UTs concerned. Admissions to this quota would strictly be on the basis of NEXT merit list only."

The 50% reservation proposal comes in the face of acute doctor shortage faced by the government in rural areas.

According to a study published in The Lancet, over 8% of 25,300 primary health centres in the country were without a doctor in 2015, 38% were without a laboratory technician while 22% had no pharmacist. Nearly 50% of posts for female health assistants and 61% for male health assistants were vacant. In community health centres, the shortfall is huge-surgeons (83%), obstetricians and gynaecologists (76%), physicians (83%), and paediatricians (82%). Even in health facilities where doctors, specialists, and paramedic staff have been posted, their availability remains in question because of high absenteeism

Ministry of health has issued the draft amendment bill and is inviting suggestions/feedback in respect of the draft Bill. Suggestions may be furnished to mepsection-mohfw@gov.in by 06.01.2017.