Eamcet medical toppers this paper spoke to on Wednesday strongly supported the decision of the state government to make it mandatory for MBBS graduates to spend one year working in a rural area before getting their degrees.

The state on Tuesday issued orders making “one-year rural service” mandatory for MBBS graduates from this academic year to be eligible for permanent registration with the AP Medical Council. “It’s great that the government has acted after years of deliberation. Medicine is not just about making money. One should also get job satisfaction,” said Ms Ravinuthala Lalitha, who came first in the state in the Eamcet medical stream this year.

Her father, Dr R.V. Kumar, is a cardiac surgeon at NIMS-Hyderabad and mother, Dr R. Aruna, is a clinical pharmacologist at Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad. She said her parents are her inspiration “as they are working in government hospitals to serve the poor.”

Ms Narapaneni Kiranmayee, who came second, comes from a rural area in Krishna district. “I know the plight of rural people in getting medical treatment during emergencies. The government should give priority to rural areas and the new rule will definitely serve the purpose,” she said.

Another topper, Mr M. Rahul, who secured third rank also supported the new rule. “Earning money alone will not give job satisfaction,” he said.