Replying to Ramanath Rai B (Congress) during question hour in the Assembly, he said (as a result), MBBS would be of a duration of six and half years from 2013-14.
At present, the duration is five and half years.
He said from this September (with the expected passage of the bill in the ongoing session), 3000 MBBS and 1110 post-graduate doctors would be available for government service in rural areas.
According to officials of the Department, only after they serve one year in rural areas after successful completion of the course would they be made eligible for permanent registration with the Karnataka Medical Council.
They said it is proposed to hike penalty rates for MBBS and post-graduate doctors who avail concessional seats in Government colleges and government seats in private colleges but opt not to serve the Government after successful completion of the course as stipulated in the relevant rules.