Medicos thank CM for 'assurance' to resolve issues

Chennai, Dec 11 (UNI) Representatives of medical students and house surgeons today called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and thanked him for the assurance to resolve the issues faced by them.

Talking to newpersons after meeting the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat, the medicos said Mr Karunanidhi was of the opinion that extension of the MBBS course by one year was ''unnecessary.'' They said the Chief Minister had told them that it would not be implemented in the state in the near future.

Reiterating that they were not against rural postings, the students said there were less number of hospitals in rural areas.

''We have no hesitation to serve in rural areas if the government comes forward to open more hospitals,'' they added.

It may be recalled that the medicos had raised a banner of revolt over the Centre's move to make one-year rural posting mandatory as they believe that it would extend the MBBS course duration by one year to six and a half years.

They had also observed an indefinite fast, which they subsequently called off following an appeal by the Chief Minister, but continued with other forms of agitation like staging demonstrations.

After they threatened to go on an indefinite fast again, they had a meeting with State Health Minister M R K Panneerselvam and called off their 15-day-long agitation.

UNI