Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Resentment is brewing in MBBS pass out medical students over additional district Residency Programme (DRP) which has been made mandatory by National Medical Commission (NMC). It is mandatory criteria in addition to rural bond service for NEET PG, according to medical students.
PG students (MD/MS) are required to rotate in district hospitals for three months as part of their curriculum to bridge the gap between medical education and rural healthcare, expose students to diverse settings and address healthcare shortages in rural areas.
Students will be trained under the guidance of district specialists and work under the overall supervision of the District Residency Programme Coordinator.
Madhya Pradesh government has already fixed a bond amount of Rs 30 lakh for students who wish to leave their course midway. This policy is prevalent in both government-run and private medical colleges in MP.
JUDA president Dr Kuldeep Gupta said, ‘Three months DPR programme is unnecessary burden on MBBS students. It is mandatory for NEET PG as criteria. NMC introduced the District Residency Programmne (DRP) to enhance healthcare at the district and rural levels by mandating postgraduate medical students (MD/MS) to spend three months in district hospitals. This programme is separate from the rural bond policy for MBBS graduates.’
