The Hindu : New Delhi News : Maharashtra medicos on indefinite strike

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Sunday, Dec 02, 2007
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Maharashtra medicos on indefinite strike

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Medical students in Maharashtra went on an indefinite strike from Saturday to oppose the Union government’s move to increase the duration of the MBBS course.

Government warning

The students and medical interns ignored the State government’s warning that they would not be allowed to appear in their examination if they went on strike. About 24,000 medical undergraduates are participating in the strike.

A spokesman of the Maharashtra Medical Students Association said the proposal to increase the duration of the MBBS course was aimed at making six months’ service in the rural areas compulsory for the doctors before they got their degrees. The government is expected to table the Bill in the ongoing session of Parliament.

The spokesman said the students did not mind serving in the rural areas but that should be within the existing course period of five-and-a-half years. “Instead of forcing the students, the government should create basic facilities at primary health centres and should have permanent appointment of doctors through proper recruitment,” he said. The government should meet the basic needs of the doctors and the patients.

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