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Planning Commission backs shortened medical degree for rural areas

NEW DELHI: The controversial three-and-a-half year long medical degree -Bachelor of Rural Medicine and Surgery (BRMS) -- has now got the backing of Planning Commissions all powerful high level expert group on universal health coverage. The panel has in its report (finalized on Sunday and available with TOI) endorsed the all new BRMS cadre and said that as a career progression incentive, they should be promoted to the level of public health officers after 10 years of service. According to the panel, by 2022, India should actually have BRMS colleges in all districts with populations of over 5 lakh. The course should focus on high quality of competence in preventive, promotive and rehabilitative services required for rural populations with focus on primary health care. It also recommended that it should be mandated through legislation that a graduate of the BRMS programme is licensed to serve only in specific notified areas in the government health system. The panel however was clear that the BRMS was not a mini-MBBS but rather a unique training programme aimed at the basic health care needs of its target population. According to the Union health ministry, vulnerable populations in rural, tribal and hilly areas are extremely under-served. In 2006, only 26% of doctors in India resided in rural areas, serving 72% of Indias population. Another study found that the urban density of doctors is nearly four times that in rural areas, and that of nurses is three times higher than rural areas.

                                                                                                               
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