NMC considering to relax bond policies: Report

New Delhi: Aiming to ease the pressure on medical students, the National Medical Commission (NMC) is planning to relax the bond conditions- both the service bond and seat leaving bond for doctors postgraduate medical students, Live Mint has reported. 

While the seat-leaving bond is imposed on the students to discourage them from discontinuing their medical course and the consequent 'wastage' of medical seats, the service bond was introduced to ensure the availability of doctors in rural areas.

Earlier this year, the Apex Medical Regulator NMC had already directed the State/UT governments to reconsider the seat leaving bond conditions for the PG medical students. 

The Anti-Ragging Committee of NMC had recommended the State/UT to review the seat-leaving policy in medical colleges in an attempt to address the mental health concerns of PG medical students. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that as an alternative, NMC had recommended that the States may consider debarring the students for admission in their States for the next one year.

Also Read: Breaking News: NMC Asks States to do Away with Seat leaving Bond

Confirming that NMC is planning to do away with the seat-leaving bond policy, an official told Live Mint, "This (seat leaving bond policy) is a very important issue as it creates a financial strain on the student. Inability to pay huge penalties creates mental health issues in the students. We have directed the states to review the seat leaving policy and suggested that instead of imposing heavy seat leaving bond, states may consider barring students from admission in their state for the next one year."

Currently, the penalty for 'seat leaving' ranges from Rs 50 lakh in Goa and Telangana, Rs 30 lakh in Madhya Pradesh, Rs 20 lakh in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra and Rs 5 lakh in Delhi.

Referring to the fact that medicalcolleges withhold the MBBS certificates and other documents of students who fail to pay the penalty, the official further added, "We have a case of first year female MD (pediatrics) students at private medical college in Uttar Pradesh was under stress due to toxic working environment in the college. Her parents must pay a hefty amount for seat-leaving bond for their daughter's health. This exorbitant amount on parents raises questions about the fairness and appropriateness of seat leaving bond."

Earlier, the Supreme Court had suggested that there should be a uniform security bond amount across the States. The top court bench comprising Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Hima Kohli and Justice J.B. Pardiwala had opined that the students who join the medical courses often come from humble middle class backgrounds and therefore, there should be uniformity regarding the bond amount for vacating the seats.

Also Read: Supreme Court calls for Uniformity in bond amount for vacating medical seats, details

Service Bond: 

The purpose of the service bond is to ensure that the doctors work for the State Government, especially in rural areas, for 1-5 years, after completing their medical education. Doctors violating the service bond conditions face huge penalties. 

Back in 2019, the Supreme Court had directed the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI), now NMC, and the Union Government to take suitable steps to ensure a uniform policy regarding the compulsory service to be rendered by the Doctors who are trained in government institutions.

Later, when a similar matter concerning service bonds reached the Madras High Court, the erstwhile MCI before facing its replacement had communicated before the Madras HC regarding setting the uniform policy for bond service.

Also Read: Right before replacement, MCI spells out Uniform bond policy for MBBS, PG medical, SS courses across the country

NMC to Streamline Service Bond for Medicos: 

As per the latest media report by Live Mint, NMC is planning to streamline the service bond conditions. Commenting on this, an official told the Daily, "We are trying to ease the medical education for students following the direction of the Supreme Court. Service bond was initiated when there was a shortage of doctors. The major problem arises among students who join medical colleges from one state to another. Many cases are pending in court as students who are outside their hometown wish to practice medicine in their city. Most of the time, the Court has favored state government as court observed that why not student should serve the rural part of that state if the government colleges are charging minimal fees or no fees."

"However, in private colleges students pay hefty fees and hence the bond policy should be relaxed. The matter is under discussion, and we are exploring ways and means to streamline this," the official added.

"The Supreme Court is likely to consider the matter. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh High Court rejected the observation of private medical college that they (private college) cannot charge any bond from students," the official further mentioned.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that recently the Supreme Court raised the question of whether private medical college students should be exempted from undergoing the mandatory rural service just because they pursued their medical education from a private institute.

Such observation came from the Apex Court, which impleaded the Karnataka Government and the State Medical Council, while considering a plea filed by medical students challenging a notification issued by the Karnataka Government. As per the notification, it was mandatory requirement for the medical students to fulfil one year of compulsory public rural service to become eligible for permanent registration with the Karnataka Medical Council.

Also Read: No Obligation to Nation Building? SC slams Private medical college students challenging compulsory rural service