Doctor shortage: Maharashtra looks upto MBBS students to join coronavirus battle

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Government will soon incorporate the Final Year MBBS Students in bolstering the medical workforces dealing with a rising number of COVID cases in the state. Imperatively, the Medical Education Minister of Maharashtra, Amit Deshmukh has directed Medical Colleges and state Authorities to urgently issue the Graduation Certificate to all the final year MBBS students, who have completed their education in 2019 and the mandatory internship till February 2020.

The confirmation to this effect was recently made by the Minister through an official announcement directing the authorities to take this matter on priority.

Once these medical students are awarded the certificate of practice, they will be considered qualified doctors. These medicos will be roped in to aid medical professionals who are taxed under an increasing number of corona positive cases.

Notably, more than 300 MBBS students of R N Cooper Municipal General Hospital (HBT Medical College) was recently sent a circular by the hospital administration, to return to the campus, stating that the hospital is in need of manpower to help medical professionals in fighting COVID-19. As of now, there is no clarity on the nature of duty that these third and fourth-year students will be assigned. However, the circular stated that medical students will be provided with hostel accommodation, but they will have to arranged for their own transport.

Also Read: Pitiful: IGMCRI MBBS Interns On COVID-19 Duty Getting Only Rs 5,000 Pm

Taking note of the shortage of manpower amidst the crisis and immediate requisite of medical forces, the Medical Education Minister announced to immediately grant the certificate of practice to the final year medical students. 

Besides, Deshmukh also announced honorariums for private doctors and nurses, to encourage them to join in the fight against Coronavirus in the state. An allowance of Rs 80,000 will be awarded to doctors while Rs 30,000 to nurses and Rs 2,00,000 to specialists like intensive care specialists, reports Times Now.

Also Read: Fake MBBS Certificate, Medical Council Registration: How A Nurse Fooled GVK EMRI

The Minister further added that private doctors have also shown interest to serve in the government hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients.

"They will have to make online registration with DMER and later they will also be deployed. So with these initiatives, a team of doctors and nurses will be to combat virus more effectively,'' he opined.