Thursday, October 08, 2009

Annals of Bad Ideas


MBBS (Rural):

To make up for the shortfall of doctors in rural areas, an alternative cadre that will work exclusively in villages is in the pipeline.

About 50 students from each state will be selected and taught in a rural setting for most part of the four-and-a-half years degree, to serve in their own district after graduation.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has the syllabus ready. “We have proposed that it be called MBBS (Rural), with some restrictions, such as the doctors cannot practice in urban areas for the first 10 years,” said Dr Ketan Desai, president, MCI.

After 10 years, the student can apply for a post-graduation medical degree.

If the idea is to encourage doctors with MBBS to work in rural areas, there ought to be simpler ways than branding a whole bunch of people as "inferior" doctors -- because that's what MBBS (Rural) would signify -- and unleashing them on villagers.

This is one case where both the doctors and the villagers deserve a better treatment.

6 Comments:

  1. Subrahmanya said...

    "This is one case where both the doctors and the villagers deserve a better treatment."
    LOL!

  2. Kaustubh said...

    yes its a bad idea to label doctors as ..say urban or rural..but except for the name it will improve the health services in rural areas..presently rural areas have dispensaries with full time medical workers appointed there..they dont have mbbs degree and treat minor ailments. proposed system may improve this scenarion. a proper mbbs degree granting institute should have X bed hospital attached to it(not sure about the number, perhaps 100). if starting of this program leads to construction of hospital..well and good...also they will need teachers who will be, as per now, mbbs(urban). if they cant get doctors to practiuce in rural areas, how do they plan to get teachers. beside these operational problems, i think this is a good idea, except for the label.

  3. Anonymous said...

    which moron came up with this idea?

  4. Anonymous said...

    I guess MBBS (rural) may become superior if along with the training govt. provides extra incentives such as free housing, extra pay etc

  5. NN said...

    Great idea ... but already manifesting sings of poor execution. Who will ever teach these people about BRANDING?!!!

  6. Bruno said...

    Read my Opinion at http://www.ularal.com/2010/02/rural-mbbs/