With its proposed amendments, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) is seeking to make medical students responsible, and doctors and hospitals more accountable. MMC is in the process of amending the dated Medical Council of Maharashtra Act, 1965, to abolish the system of exit bonds for medical students, and bring all private hospitals, clinics and health centres under the purview of the council. MMC is set to present the two new revolutionary amendments in the next state Assembly session.

Bridge the gap
Speaking to mid-day, Dr Shivkumar Utture, president of MMC said, "We're already done with the first draft, where we've suggested abolishing the policy of exit bonds. The proposal has been mooted as every year, thousands of MBBS students in government colleges skip the mandatory bond service in rural areas, and pay a fine of R15 lakh. So, to make going to rural areas compulsory for them, we don't want to give them the option of paying fines." If this rule is implemented, Maharashtra would be first state in India to abolish the system of paying fines.