Do Doctors Need to Serve in Rural Areas for a Year?

The Supreme Court has shown interest in having a uniform national policy that could require medical students to serve in rural areas for one year. The issue came up during a hearing on a petition challenging Karnataka’s mandatory rural service rule. Justice Narasimha said medical education also involves government support and that doctors have a responsibility towards society and nation-building.

In Karnataka, the rural service rule applies to students from both government and private medical seats. The petitioner argued that students who pay high fees for private seats should not be treated the same as those who study with government support. The Supreme Court has asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek the Centre’s views on whether a similar policy should be followed across India. The hearing has been adjourned for three weeks.