New Delhi: In response to queries in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health, Smt. Anupriya Patel, clarified that the responsibility to provide reservations for in-service candidates seeking admission to postgraduate medical courses lies with the state governments, not the National Medical Commission (NMC). The minister’s statement came after Dr. Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade, a Parliament member, raised questions about the issue of compulsory rural postings and incentives for doctors working in remote areas.
Patel explained that while the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, previously allowed for the granting of incentive marks to doctors working in remote or difficult areas, a 2020 ruling by the Supreme Court clarified that states have the legislative authority to create separate entry channels for in-service candidates under their constitutional powers. The court’s decision in the Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association case reinforced that states could take the lead in offering reservations and executing bonds for PG medical admissions.
The minister further highlighted that the NMC had introduced the District Residency Program, where PG medical students in their second or third year are required to spend three months in district hospitals, aiming to improve healthcare facilities at the district and rural levels.
Additionally, Smt. Patel outlined several initiatives under the National Health Mission (NHM) to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural areas. These include:
- Providing allowances, performance-based incentives, accommodation, and transport for doctors working in remote regions.
- Allowing states to offer flexible, negotiable salaries to attract specialists, using models like “You quote, we pay.”
- Encouraging states to adopt flexible norms for engaging doctors and specialists, including contracting out specialist services to improve public healthcare delivery.
The government has also taken measures to improve the working conditions and satisfaction of doctors in government services, including:
- Raising the retirement age for doctors in the Central Health Service (CHS) to 65 years (as of August 2018).
- Offering time-bound promotions under the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) Scheme.
- Increasing study leave for CHS officers pursuing higher studies to 36 months.
- Recognizing Diplomate of National Board qualifications for faculty appointments.
- Providing preventive health check-ups for doctors over 40 years of age.
These measures are part of a broader effort to improve healthcare delivery, retain skilled professionals, and address the shortage of specialists in India’s public health system.
