The government has withdrawn a proposal to extend the existing year-long internship programme for MBBS graduates to two years amid the widespread backlash from the medical students.
Earlier on Aug 27, the health and family welfare ministry issued a circular with a draft policy proposing the internship extension and sought opinions on the issue through its website by Sept 18.
The draft policy, however, sparked vigorous protest among the medical graduates as well as the doctors’ groups.
Medical students including that of Dhaka Medical College’s also staged demonstration protesting the ministry’s move and demanding the withdrawal of the proposal.
In a statement on Sunday (Sept 1), the health ministry said the draft policy has been withdrawn and another draft would be published on its website after thoroughly discussing with the people concerned.
The ministry also thanked those who gave their valuable opinion on the draft policy, now-withdrawn, the statement added.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Swachip) President Prof Dr M Iqbal Arslan the draft policy has been pulled back in face of the student’s protest.
President of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council Prof Dr Shahidulla, too, echoed Arslan saying “no proposal on a two-year internship for now.”