New Delhi: With doctors showing reluctance to serve in rural and isolated areas, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has made it mandatory for Post-Graduate (PG) medical students to serve three months in a district as part of their academic pursuit.

The Board of Directors of MCI has notified the District Residency programme a couple of days ago  and it would start from this academic year (2020-21). 

Accordingly, Post-Graduate Medical Colleges and MCI will work together to create a rotation system for students in the third, fourth or fifth semester and place them in the districts.

With the MCI Board now finalising the District Residency programme, the MD and MS students will serve either in a district hospital or any other medical facility identified by the District Administration. The PG students will receive their stipend from the Medical College depending on the attendance proof provided by the District Administration.