HASSAN: Minister for Health R. Ashok has said that the Government will make it mandatory for students who completed MBBS under Government quota (free seat) to work in rural areas for two years. Failure to do so will end in imprisonment for two years.

Addressing presspersons here after inaugurating a conference on Ayurveda, he said necessary Bill would be introduced in the coming Legislature session.

Mr. Ashok said legislation would also be brought making Government doctors to stay in their place of work.

He said the Government had appointed 485 doctors and the process was on to recruit another 500. All had to work in rural areas.

Mr. Ashok said doctors working in one place for more than 10 years would be transferred during the general transfers this year.

He said the Government had enhanced grants for drug purchase. A sum of Rs. 108 crore had been earmarked in Budget.

Stringent action would be taken against doctors if they asked patients to bring medicine from outside. In case of emergency, if they prescribe from outside, prior permission from their higher-ups is mandatory, he said.

On the reports that he would join the Janata Dal (Secular), Mr. Ashok said it was a baseless rumour. " I am basically an RSS man and RSS is in my blood. How can I join the JD(S)? he asked.

He said B.S. Yediyurappa would take over as Chief Minister on October 4.

Mr. Ashok said that the Government will place the Private Nursing Homes Regulation Bill in the ensuing Assembly session to prevent quacks from practising. The Act would help preventing Nursing Homes from exploiting patients, he added.

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