Hyderabad, Mar 1 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh government was considering a proposal to issue final certificates to medical graduates only after they serve in rural areas for two years, Minister for Medical and Health K Rosaiah said today.

Replying to a question by R Suryaprakasha Rao of the Congress during the question hour in state assembly, he said even the Centre was thinking on the same lines.

Mr Rosaiah said medical services in rural areas could not be improved as doctors were reluctant to serve in Primary Health Centres (PHCs).

He said if the government withheld the certificates for at least one year, services in rural areas would improve as it would result in rotation of doctors.

The state government was consulting the Medical Council of India about the possibility of bringing a law in this regard, he added.

As non-practicing allowance of doctors was cancelled in 1987, doctors were unwilling to join government service, he said, adding the government was only regularising those doctors, who joined the service on contract basis initially.

At present there were 1570 PHCs in the state and there was need for setting up 200 more.

UNI