Continuing its protest against the government''s decision to introduce a three-and-a-half-year-long Bachelor of Rural Health Course (BRHC) in the country, the Indian Medical Association has now called upon medical students and young doctors from across the country to join their agitation. The Association has also threatened to intensify its agitation by wearing black bands and going on an hour-long token strike in case the government does not pay heed to their demand of withdrawing the proposed course. “It is unfortunate that the government has decided to go ahead with its plan to start the BRHC despite strong opposition. We have now called upon young doctors from across the country to be a part of the protest movement to ensure that the government has a chance to listen to the grievances of those who are going to be adversely affected by the introduction of this new course,” said IMA joint secretary Dr. Narendra Saini. He said it is not just young doctors who would be adversely hit but the course would also affect the health of rural India as the course would “produce half-baked doctors”. “Next month, doctors across the country will protest by wearing black bands on one day and the next month we will participate in a token strike. This is to drive home the point that doctors are unhappy with the introduction of the course. There is also a general consensus among medical students and young doctors on the ill effects of such a move. These doctors have joined under the banner Young Doctors'' Federation to highlight their problems and to ensure that there is sustained pressure on the government to take back the course,” added a senior IMA official. In a statement, the Association noted that through the introduction of the course, the government will produce “semi-qualified quacks” which will further expose the patients to several problems. Source: www.thehindu.com