The Centre is planning to make it compulsory for medical students to serve in rural areas to get MBBS degree in order to tackle shortage of doctors in villages. In an affidavit filed before the Delhi High Court, the Health Ministry said it is taking all possible steps, which includes special compensation package for doctors, to attract them to serve in rural areas. In a six-page affidavit filed by the joint secretary in the ministry, the government has said promotion would be given to doctors who serve in difficult areas.<br/><br/>The affidavit said, compensation packages and introduction of incentive and allowances for doctors practicing in rural areas are being considered by the government, adding compulsory rural posting for all medical graduates is also being considered.<br/><br/>The government's response came on a PIL filed by a doctor Meenakshi Gautam seeking its direction on allowing non-MBBS persons to practice medicine to help meet scarcity of doctors in rural areas. <br/><br/>Advocates Prashant Bhushan and Pranav Sachdeva appearing for the petitioner pleaded that the Centre and Medical Council of India should be directed to introduce a short-term course for training health care workers to overcome the shortage.