Haryana Medicos Continue Agitation, demand clarity from Government on Bond Policy Modifications

Rohtak: The medical students in Haryana are still not ready to agree to the modified bond service terms announced by the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar recently. Therefore they are still continuing with their strike.

Meanwhile, considering the grievances of the patients, who were facing problems because of the shut down of OPD and elective services, the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) has withdrawn their strike. However, they are still morally supporting the agitating MBBS students across the State.

The students have also demanded clarity from the Government regarding the recent modifications that has been announced. They are demanding that the Government releases the verbal assurances in a Gazette notification and only after that they will consider about their next step, an MBBS student from PGIMS Rohtak informed Medical Dialogues.

The MBBS students in Haryana have been protesting against the State Government's new 7-year long bond service policy for more than one month. As per the notification published in the State Government Gazette dated November 07, 2022, "All candidates completing their MBBS Course from Government Medical Colleges in the State of Haryana, shall have to execute a tripartite bond at the time of admission amounting to Rs 36,40,636/- in Government Medical Colleges and Rs 32,80,000/- in Government Aided Medical College i.e MAMC, Agroha which will be signed at the time of admission between the candidate, bank and Government (through the Institution concerned in which the candidate gets admission)."

Also Read: No Solution from Govt: Pan-Haryana strike in Private Hospitals, students to meet CM tomorrow

Clearly, the medicos were upset with the bond-cum-loan agreement worth almost Rs 40 lakh. There was also confusion about those students who would pursue Postgraduation. The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of Haryana Government medical colleges had earlier come in support of the MBBS students and they were demanding the revision of bond service period from 7 years to 1 year and changing the penalty amount to Rs 5 lakh.

Previously, the Haryana medicos belonging to government institutes had decided to shut down OPD, ward and elective services. Several associations of doctors including the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), IMA Junior Doctors' Network (JDN) and Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) had come in support of the Haryana medicos.

Finally, after a month-long protest, the medicos had a meeting with the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who announced last Wednesday that the bond policy would be modified. The Chief Minister announced the decision of reducing the bond service period from 7 years to 5 years and bond anount from 40 lakhs to 30 lakhs.

The CM had also assured that "Not everyone has to pay this (bond) amount. Only those who'll complete MBBS in next 5 years & will earn more than govt salary will pay this amount. We've also given job guarantee. Those who will not get any Pvt or govt job will be given contractual employment for 1 yr."

However, Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the medical students in Haryana had rejected the modifications and they were continuing with their strike. Fixed at their stand, the medicos are still demanding one-year compulsory bond service with guarantee of job from the Government.

Although the medicos have rejected the modifications announced by the Chief Minister, the RDA of PGIMS Rohtak has withdrawn its strike. Such a decision was taken by the resident doctors as they considered the problems faced by numerous patients who were deprived of the OPD service facilities at the government hospitals.

Issuing a Public Notice in this regard, the RDA of PGIMS Rohtak informed on December 1, 2022, "It is for your kind information that members of RDA, after an unanimous decision in a General Body Meeting dated 01.12.22 has decided to withdraw the strike with immediate effect and continue with regular hospital activities in the best interest of patient healthcare. The decision is being taken after a meeting fated 30.11.22 with the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Haryana wherein students were assured of progressive amendments to the policy. The RDA further requests the Government to make proper developments in the policy in the best interest of the undergraduate students."

"They have withdrawn the strike but the resident doctors are still morally supporting our agitation. We shall continue our protest until our core demands of one-year compulsory bond service with job guarantee is met," informed Priya Kaushik, an MBBS student from PGIMS Rohtak.

While commenting on this, Dr. Manish Jangra of FAIMA Doctors' Association told Medical Dialogues, "The bond policy introduced by the Haryana Government is completely illogical. Instead of increasing bond amount and tenure, the Government should increase the vacancies."

Also Read: Haryana Govt Modifies Bond policy to 5 years Service, 30 lakh penalty, Medicos continue strike