The Kerala government has set a precedent prior to the issuance of Medical Entrance application forms by adding a provision in the application that all those who get medical admission via merit needs to submit a bond stating that once the candidate passes out, he or she would work for minimum one year in the state rural service, and if the state wishes him/her to continue, the bond period may get extended to a maximum of three years. This is applicable to those who enroll themselves via entrance merit and get placed in both government and management medical institutions.
In today’s globalized professional level playing field, it is common to find professionals of all disciplines go looking for greener pastures either in country or abroad. This scenario has been taxing the medical fraternity a lot by way of running institutions, conducting courses and finally losing the finished products. These products find their deserving slots elsewhere and the state health department that produces them is left in the lurch with health indices falling as a result of staff shortage.
The situation is very acute in rural areas where medical infrastructure is very poor. And a budding medical practitioner would find a super specialty medical facility much more attractive than the makeshift medical enclaves we find in rural landscapes. There lies the problem. The present condition set forth by the medical council would make some difference in the way public health centres in our villages work in the coming days.
As the condition is set at the time of entry itself, the possibility for bunking it is very rare, and the candidate is left with two options, either a seat with a year long ‘bonded’ state rural service or be prepared to pay 5 lakhs compensation reimbursement. The later is earmarked for offsetting the expenses involved in grooming a student into a medical professional.
This new prerequisite needs to be strictly carried out, and the young medicos may be aware of the fact that medical practicing is an opportunity to learn things practically and it is the first hand knowledge that makes one a professional. The possibility for the same is much more in our rural India than anywhere else. Rural India offers the most diverse and complex medical cases and a young medico would find his maiden service practice really challenging and rewarding in the long run.
There could be a few incentives for those who spare more years in rural areas. Every additional year they voluntarily put in needs to be appreciated and the same can be added as additional advantages when it comes to migration or relocation. If we could make it so, the candidates who initiate to spare 5 or more year’s service in rural areas could be given some faster prospects in the form of promotions and better pay packages. This would entice more medicos not to think too many times when they are left with what we call Catch 22 situation set by the government. So it is for the medicos ‘to be or not to be’ in the rural areas.
In this connection I think it would be fair to look at some of the prospects both the happen to enjoy:
· Life in the villages would get much healthier leading to better economic outcome.
· Young professionals can have first-hand knowledge on strange medical conditions which rural India is know for.
· Access to medicine can be ensured to the poorest of the poor.
· The money paid by those who opt out of this scheme can be used to augment medical infrastructure.
· This precondition will develop a kind of social and moral commitment in every professional as it offers not surprise.
· Ambitious candidates, who desperately want to be in a much developed medical environment, are given a clean option that they can pay five lakhs, pack up and go.
· This new system will streamline Indian medical sphere which is known more for self service than for selfless service, because medical education is a wise investment option here.
· Those who are well off can invest five more lakhs and look for better turn over from elsewhere.
· Since it is the merit that wins great number of poor students their coveted medical seats, they would happily spare a few years for the poor in the villages.
· The divide in the health indices can be offset to a great extent.
So the precedent the Kerala government has created would make great shifts in the way medical system is going to work in the rural India, say after five years. Let’s wait for the first batch to pass out and see for ourselves how many of our medicos are taking their profession selflessly or selfishly.
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