Medical students oppose Union Health Minister's decision

Mumbai, Nov 26 (UNI) The Maharashtra State Medical Students Association, today staged a peaceful protest at Azad Maidan, CST against the proposal of the Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramdoss' of increasing the duration of MBBS course by one year.

The decision was taken in the meeting of all representatives from various medical colleges of Maharashtra. The proposal has been made by the minister on recommendations of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), which will include compulsory rotatory rural internship for one year.

The medical students said the duration of the medical education at present is 5.5 years of MBBS which includes one year of internship. In addition to the MBBS course, there is one year of optional Medical Officership, three years of post graduation course and three years of post P.G Medical Officership, that totals to 12.5 years.

The students in their protest requested the government, not to increase the duration of the course as it will discourage many people from opting the medical profession.

UNI