The local unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) successfully managed to get the attention of Sushma Swaraj, Union Minister for Health and Family welfare, on the issue of Basic Medical Practitioners Course started by the Madhya Pradesh government to percolate health services into remote areas.

In a memorandum submitted to the Union Minister, the IMA office-bearers alleged that the one-year course allows quacks practicing in the rural areas to get validation and continue with their practice - posing a grave threat to the lives of the rural residents.

Further, this course also gives them a government backing to practice openly with free government aid. How can a one-year course be equaled to an MBBS degree, they asked, demanding the Central intervention in closing down the course.

The Madhya Pradesh government had widely publicized the Basic Medical Practitioners course and had wooed thousands of 10+2 pass outs to enroll into the course at some medical colleges. In the past two years, this course has virtually tied the hands of the administrative officers and the campaign against quackery has come to a stand still.

Reacting to the issue, Sushma Swaraj aid a lack of medical services in the rural areas cannot be removed by short-term programmes. She asked the IMA local unit to send a plan to the Union government in measures to be taken to strengthen the medical services in the remote belt.

The memorandum was submitted by IMA city president Dr Rajendra Choubey and secretary Ulhas Mahajan.