Proposal to eliminate compulsory rural service for medical graduates moved in Karnataka Assembly

Belagavi: In a significant development, the Karnataka Government introduced a bill on Tuesday specifically aiming to replace an ordinance that eliminates the mandatory one-year rural service requirement for medical college graduates in the state.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao tabled the bill, which proposes amendments to sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Karnataka Compulsory Services by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, 2012.

According to the statement of objects and reasons provided in the bill, the amendment seeks to exempt candidates chosen for central or state government services from the obligation to serve in rural areas, reports PTI.

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Previously, under the Karnataka Compulsory Service by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, all MBBS, postgraduate, and super-speciality graduates were required to spend one year working in government healthcare institutions in rural areas as junior residents.

The move to replace the ordinance was justified by Law Minister HK Patil in October, who explained that the rural service requirement would now be limited to the number of available vacancies in government positions. 

Stating that the decision was taken as the number of applicants for rural service far exceeded vacancies in government hospitals, he had said the government was reducing the financial burden and also rationalising human resources with the move.

Medical Dialogues team had reported earlier this year that this policy change was proposed by the Health Department of Karnataka to lessen the financial burden on the government. If implemented, this can lead to Rs 544 crore annual savings.

Although one-year compulsory rural service was mandatory only for the medicos from government medical colleges, Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates completed Medical Courses Act, 2012 made it applicable for medical graduates from private medical colleges as well.

Currently, MBBS, MD/MS/Diploma, and Super Speciality students get a monthly salary of around Rs 62,666, Rs 70,000 and Rs 72,800 respectively for compulsory service.

However, according to the 2012 Act, these students should be paid a stipend equal to an amount that is Rs 100 less than the minimum gross salary paid to the general duty medical doctors/specialists/senior specialists serving in the State Health and Family Welfare Department.

Also Read- Karnataka Govt Proposes Restricting Compulsory Service Only For GMC Graduates