New Delhi: Faced with shortage of doctors in villages and remote areas, the Medical Council of India has proposed a one-year mandatory rural service for medical undergraduates by increasing the duration of MBBS course to 6.5 years.
At present, the MBBS course is of 5.5 years, including a year-long internship. The MCI intends to use this additional year for a village posting of doctors under the existing National Rural Health Mission scheme of the Centre.
The proposal, mooted by MCI Board of Governors Chairman K K Talwar to the Health Ministry at a recent meeting held here to discuss shortage of doctors in villages, involves increasing the MBBS duration from 5.5 years to 6.5 years. (PTI)