Team Blitz India
MUMBAI: The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) has planned to submit a proposal to the state Government to waive the Rs 20 lakh seat-leaving penalty for candidates with mental illness.
This was decided after Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) met the Medical Education Commissioner and apprised him about the state of mental health of all doctors. They stressed that there was a need to change the policy to avoid psychiatric problems. There has been an alarming rise in cases of suicides among medical students in the State which prompted the association to approach DMER for necessary reforms.
DMER is now working on a proposal which will be submitted to the Government. The proposal to stop penalising residents who wish to opt out of their post-graduate courses due to mental health issues is a crucial move in addressing the challenges faced by resident doctors. The heavy penalty amount has been a barrier for those seeking psychiatric treatment and wanting to leave the course.
Resident doctors’ plea to set up college and state-level grievance redressal committees for mental health issues, has also been accepted by the medical education department.
Among the other steps being contemplated by the Government for postgraduate medical students, to improve their working conditions and alleviate their stress levels, are collecting data on inadequacies of hostel spaces, other hostel facilities and the quantum of stipend hikes within a specified timeframe
