Compulsory rural service for docs awaits Prez nod

Karnataka government was awaiting President Pranab Mukherjee’s assent to a bill to enable it to take strict action against doctors not serving in rural areas, health and family welfare minister U T Khader said on Monday.

The state assembly in August 2012 had passed the Karnataka Compulsory Training by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Bill hoping to solve the problem of shortage of qualified and specialised doctors in rural areas.

Khader said he had already led a delegation to Delhi along with union minister Mallikarjun Kharge to seek Mukherjee’s assent for the bill. ‘Twice the President of India had sought clarifications on the bill,’ he said.As per the provisions of the bill, besides hefty fines, doctors not complying its provisions would not be given permanent registration to carry out their profession.

Khader said inspite of many doctors and postgraduates completing their courses, there was a scarcity of medical professionals in rural areas.