New Delhi: Raising concern over the central government's decision to make one year rural posting mandatory for doctors seeking post-graduation, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has said it was "not feasible" and would only delay their specialisation schedule.

"It is not feasible and MCI does not agree with the Health Ministry's decision to make one year rural posting mandatory for those seeking post-graduation from the next academic session," MCI Chairman Ketan Desai told reporters here.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had last Wednesday said that the government has decided to make one-year combined rural posting mandatory for doctors seeking post-graduation from the next academic session.

"It already requires 12 long years for doctors to complete their medical specialisation and one year rural posting will further delay their specialisation schedule," Desai said.

He further said that the council has already taken steps to increase the strength of medical practitioners in rural areas by opening more medical colleges.

"Of the 130 medical colleges opened since 1997, as many as 101 are in rural areas. Efforts have been made to provide good medical facilities in rural areas," he added.

The decision on rural posting was endorsed by the states in the meeting of the Central Council for Health and Family Welfare last month.

During the rural posting, doctors will be stationed at primary health centres, community health centres (at sub-district level) and district headquarters for four months each and get a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000.

The central government will partly fund the creation of infrastructure, including accommodation facilities for doctors who are deployed in rural areas.

According to official figures, the country needs eight lakh more "modern medicine" doctors and 15 lakh additional nurses to meet the growing demands in the health sector.

Presently, there are seven lakh doctors in the country.