The state plans to set up a new government medical college (GMC), where students will be admitted with an undertaking that they will serve in rural areas for 5-7 years in government hospitals only . The location of the college is yet to be decided, but the medical education department is mulling over ways to ensure that graduates from this college will only serve in rural areas lifelong. The state director, directorate of medical education and research (DMER), Dr Pravin Shingare, said that the issue had come up for discussion on Wednesday , the last day of the legislature's winter session.

Supported by the state medical council, the department could issue `practice licences' to fresh medical graduates only for certain specified rural areas, Dr Shingare felt. “They will be required to work in rural government hospitals for the bond period and thereafter, if they wish to leave government service, they would still be required to work in rural areas only. I will discuss this matter with authorities concerned on Monday,“ he said. A scheme to increase the bond period was definitely in the offing, he added. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's recent statement on making doctors serve in rural areas for seven to ten has already sparked a row.

State president of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) Dr Sagar Mundada said, “MARD is not averse to the idea of mandatory government service. We do owe our service to society but making it 7 to 10 years is definitely not acceptable“.