India's health advisory body has proposed mandatory rural service for medical graduates and wants a greater role for traditional medicine. The proposals from the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare are intended to boost the delivery of health care across the country.

The council has also spelt out guidelines for setting up new hospitals to be funded jointly by the government and the private sector.

The council wants the rules governing medical education to be changed so that future medical graduates receive only a provisional degree until they have completed a three year rural tenure. The council has also asked the Indian Medical Council to consider making rural …