GUWAHATI, Aug 20 - Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that the period of service offered at COVID centres will be treated equivalent to rural service for the MBBS graduates. The Minister said that the duration for which a doctor serves at COVID centres would be deducted from the stipulated one-year period of mandatory rural posting.
Sarma made the announcement at the GMCH auditorium during a function organised to hand over appointment letters to 201 staff nurses of Lakhimpur Medical College and rural service appointment to 157 doctors in Assam.
The Lakhimpur Medical College, built at a cost of Rs 378 crore, is scheduled to start functioning from November this year.
Sarma said that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Changsari will start its academic calendar from November 1, while the institute will be open for treatment by next year.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister also said that keeping in view the patient load at the Gauhati Medical Colleges and Hospital, the State government is planning to build another medical college in Guwahati.
While stating that the Dhubri and Nagaon medical colleges will be operational from next year, he added that Biswanath Chariali, Goalpara, Karimganj and Charaideo too will have medical colleges soon.
Member of Parliament Pradan Baruah and legislator Dr Ranoj Pegu were also present on the occasion.
