New Delhi, Sep 17 - Doctors who opt to work in rural areas will be duly compensated with extra money and weightage points that will help them while going for higher studies, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced Thursday.

'The only way to attract the attention of doctors to work in difficult, most difficult and inaccessible areas is through incentives. We have requested the states to give us the list under the above categories. We can provide extra money as extra incentive,' Azad told reporters.

'Assam has already done it. To encourage rural postings, additional weightage will be given in the post graduate examination at the rate of 10 percent for each year of rural service. It will be subject to a maximum of 30 percent extra weightage for three years of rural service,' he said while giving details of his ministry's achievements in the last 100 days.

Azad said this service will have to be rendered after the internship period only. This service will not only help the National Rural Health Mission, but also help the MBBS doctors in accumulating extra weightage points for further studies,' he added.