“The rural posting will not be over and above the existing MBBS duration of five and half years. The one-year service will be accommodated within the existing course,” the Minister told reporters. The students will be posted in district hospitals with a monthly stipend of Rs 8,000. Vehicles will be available to take them to the taluka and village level health centres.
The clarification comes in the wake of intense student protests in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Bihar and others parts of the country. Pitching strongly for rural posting, Dr Ramadoss said, “The government subsidises their medical education through the taxpayer’s money. Where am I wrong to ask them to serve in the villages?”

As per the Centre’s proposal, medical students will not receive their MBBS degree and final registration until they complete their rural service, though they will get a temporary registration. Meanwhile, a Health ministry committee is reviewing the proposal once again. Asked about the protests by a few girl students, who proposed marriage to the Minister, claiming a delay in their MBBS course would hamper their marriage prospects, Dr Ramadoss' reply was, “They should go to work in rural areas.” The village and taluka level hospitals have been provided with necessary equipment and medicines under the national rural healthcare mission.