Medical Students in Maharashtra Challenge One-Year Rural Posting Rule

Over 1,600 medical graduates of 2017 batch signed a plea challenging the Maharashtra government’s decision of making one-year rural service mandatory to take up Postgraduate (PG) medical courses. The online petition initiated by a parent of one such graduate received tremendous feedback and response from medical graduates.

According to government’s rule, students pursuing both UG and PG courses in government medical colleges must serve for one-year in a hospital run by Public Health Department of Maharashtra. However, many students postpone or skip these postings until after post graduation.

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The new rule implemented by the state government aims at monitoring the existing practice. On October 12, 2017, Department of Medical Education and Drugs issued a Government Resolution or GR in this regard. According to the GR, the new rule will be applicable from the next academic session. The new rule has stalled the hopes of MBBS graduates of 2017, who planned to complete their rural posting after PG.

The GR has been implemented just two months ahead of NEET-PG. The parent who moved the online petition urged the government to reconsider its decision on one-year rural posting rule. It was too late by the time the government implemented its decision and many students have already started their preparations for NEET-PG.

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On the other hand, an official associated with DMER clarified that the rules had been decided in principle and there is no confirmation on the timeline. The decision to implement the one-year posting rule for the next academic session will be finalised by the next week.