Mumbai, September 10: In a bid to enhance healthcare facilities in rural areas of Maharashtra, the state government is now offering a 10 % quota for those who are ready to work in villages. According to a report by TOI, the government has proposed to reserve 10% of MBBS and 20% of medical post-graduation seats for in-service doctors for five and seven years, respectively. The decision is believed to bridge the doctor-patient gap in rural areas. Fake Medical Degree Racket in Mumbai Busted, Doctor Held for Duping Students.

The decision was approved by the state cabinet on Monday. The report states that the quota benefit comes with strict condition. The rule states that those failing to work in state-run hospitals after completion of the course could face imprisonment of five years or even cancellation of their degrees.

The seats under this quota will be available in state and civic-run medical colleges. Candidates who want to work for a long period in government centres can also apply for it. According to preliminary estimates, 450-500 MBBS seats could be earmarked under this quota. Meanwhile, the number of PG seats for in-service MBBS graduates could be around 300. The report adds that the state government will introduce a bill called Maharashtra Designation of Certain Seats in Government and Municipal Corporations Medical Colleges in the legislature to make it a law.

Head of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) was quoted in reports saying that the decision will attract enough doctors to man the primary health centres and other rural health facilities in rural or remote areas.

Under the quota system, students getting a seat will have to sign a bond and any breach would attract imprisonment of five years as well as cancellation of degrees. Candidates with the state’s domicile certificate can opt for the quota.  The population ratio of doctors in the state is 1:1,330 against the WHO recommended 1:1,000, a latest economic survey of Maharashtra 2018-19 stated.

The ratio is low in remote parts of the state such as Gadchiroli and other remote areas of the state. It must be noted that all MBBS and PG students studying in the public medical colleges are supposed to serve a mandatory one-year bond after the completion of each degree. If the students fail to do so, the MBBS students have to pay a penalty of Rs 10 lakh, PG doctors Rs 50 lakh and Rs 2 crore by super-specialty candidates.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 10, 2019 09:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).