The new MH government has stayed the decision to reserve 10% MBBS and 20% postgraduate medical seats for doctors willing to work in rural and tribal areas for five and seven years respectively. The decision of reserving the seats was passed by the previous ruling cabinet on September 9, after which there were plans to introduce a bill to make it a law. Unlike other decisions, the regulation promising seat reservation in return for rural services, on September 9, had gathered mixed reactions among the doctors.
A few of them believed that the policy held promise and could have ensured a steady pool of doctors to serve in interior Maharashtra and the other few were hesitant to work in rural areas. In addition to this, a senior state health official expressed his views, on the decision to cancel the regulation stating that, “This is not good news. It was a sure way of getting doctors in…
