Medical students strike continues
Medical students on strike in the city on Monday.The striking medicos of the Coimbatore Medical College said on Monday that they did not see as a mere rural service period, a year’s extension of the MBBS course that the Union Health Ministry had planned.If the certificates were to be issued only after six-and-a-half years, would this not amount to a full course period, asked a statement from the Coimbatore Division of the Tamil Nadu Medical Students’ Council.Quoting Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss as having said that it was not an increase in the duration of the course, but only a rural service component, the statement contended that if the certificates were to be issued only after this service period, it could only amount to a full course period. Besides, it would be improper on the part of the final year students to function as doctors in the rural areas without their degree certificates, the students said, declaring that they were continuing with their strike to press for the withdrawal of the proposal.They wore black gags across the mouth and tied their hands to show their protest.Supporting this view, secretary of the Indian Medical Association’s Coimbatore Branch N.V. Girish Kumar said it was not wise to post inexperienced junior doctors when they had not even registered with the Medical Council of India. “We are of the opinion that employing permanent, full-time Government doctors is a better method.”Stating that the IMA had studied the proposed changes to the course, including the compulsory rural posting, Dr. Girish Kumar demanded that the proposals should not be implemented.
“Increasing the course duration from five-and-a-half years to six-and-a-half years is not necessary, and will not serve any useful purpose. The increased course duration will further reduce the number of good students wanting to take up medicine, and IT (information technology) and computer courses will become even more attractive,” he said.The district unit of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has planned a demonstration here for Tuesday to express support to the strike by the medicos.The party said in a press release that the demonstration would be led by legislator from Pollachi and party election cell secretary V. Jayaraman.Party district secretary and legislator S.M. Velusamy said in the release that he and Perur MLA S.P. Velumani would also participate.This announcement from the AIADMK came at a time when the students declared that they did not want any political colour to be given to their strike.
