Minister wins match, but politically isolated at home

While Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramaodss may have won the battle to sack AIIMS director Dr Venugopal, back home in Tamil Nadu he's getting isolated politically.

Political parties are joining hands with medicos who have launched an indefinite hunger strike against his move to extend the MBBS course by one year.
Their energy levels are down because of the hunger strike but medicos are receiving a refreshing morale booster from politicians.

With the Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss keen on extending the MBBS course by one year, with an additional year for the compulsory rural service in his home state, his political friends and foes are upping the ante from the key opposition the AIADMK to his ally the CPM.
They say there can't be any extension and rural service if at all has to be a part of the present five and half year MBBS programme.

''They will have to study MS or MD and its unfair to increase the course by one year,'' said Nallakannu, leader of CPI.
''You can't treat villagers as second grade citizens. Give them registered doctors,'' said Sarath Kumar, President, AISMK.

Medicos have sought to clarify that they are not against rural service but all they want is permanent jobs in rural areas and are only against extending MBBS from five and half to six and half years.

They said that they are ready to go and serve in any rural area if the rural orientation programme is accommodated within the five and a half years.
Vaiko, MDMK Chief said, ''Even the state government should take up the issue and make an appeal to the union government.''

Courtesy:ndtv.com
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