Haryana medicos escalate strike, OPD and elective services to remain closed from tomorrow

Rohtak: Getting no positive response from the State Government about the withdrawal of Rs 40 lakh MBBS bond conditions, the medical students in Haryana have decided to escalate their protest.

Supporting the MBBS students, now the resident doctors belonging to all the government colleges of Haryana have decided to shut down OPD, Ward and elective services (sparing the emergency and trauma) from Thursday onwards.

Recently a delegation of students belonging to all the medical colleges in Haryana met the Director of Medical Education and Research (DMER) and Additional chief secretary of Medical education in Haryana and conveyed their concerns and demands in detail.

However, the Government has not given any response yet, Pankaj Bitthu, an MBBS student of PGIMS Rohtak informed Medical Dialogues.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the MBBS students in Haryana were protesting against the Rs 10 lakh annual bond policy imposed on the students. While recently CM Manohar Lal Khattar announced the Government's decision of junking the Rs 10 lakh annual fee, the bond money got changed into Bond papers. Therefore, now students will have to enter into a bond-cum-loan agreement of the amount with the college and the concerned bank. The state government will finance the bond amount if MBBS and MD pass-out students wish to join government service as a doctor and serve for a specified period of seven years. But candidates who do not want to join government services in Haryana will have to pay the amount themselves.

Clearly, the doctors were upset with the bond service terms for seven years and it was also unclear what would happen if the medicos wished to pursue post-graduation or higher education degrees. So, the upset medicos had organized a peaceful protest against the new bond rules in Haryana.

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)."

However, MBBS students in Haryana have rejected the modifications mentioned in the recent Government notification dated November 7, 2022. Alleging that the new notification lacks clarity on several issues, the medicos belonging to all the Government medical colleges in Haryana are continuing their protest in a peaceful manner.

Also Read: Haryana Bond Policy: PGIMS RDA observes 2 hour pen-down in OPD, doctors warn on Nationwide protest

Recently the delegation of students belonging to all the GMCs met the DMER and Additional chief secretary of Medical education in Haryana, Dr. G Anupama. The medicos expressed concerns, demands, and justifications.

"The officials assured us that they would convey our problems to the Chief Minister. We are firm with our demands- that the bond service duration should be 1 year, the penalty amount should be Rs 5 lakh and postings will be given within 2 months," said Pankaj Bitthu, an MBBS student of PGIMS Rohtak.

Speaking about their demands, he further added, "We feel that for implementing bond conditions, bank is not necessary. Bond can be enforced by non-financial mechanisms as well. The State can confiscate the degree of the students, bar the registration of students at Haryana Medical Council, debar the students from NEET-PG and take other administrative measures. However, they are adamant on a financial bond of a hefty amount of Rs 40 lakh," he added.

Referring to the Government notification, he further pointed out that there is no clarity regarding the method of selection. He said, "Also why are they talking about selection if at all it is a service bond. That is really ironic because they will have to give postings to everyone."

Mentioning about further escalating the protest, he added, "We stand affirm upon our demands. It will escalate. RDAs of all the government medical colleges in Haryana are going on an indefinite strike from tomorrow. OPDs, Wards and elective surgeries (sparing the emergency and trauma) are being closed from tomorrow onwards. We hope that the government listens to us."

Meanwhile, writing to the Director of PGIMS Rohtak, the Resident Doctors' Association has informed about their decision of closing down the OPDs. The letter stated, "The MBBS Students of Haryana have been protesting peacefully over a period of three weeks in this unforgiving weather regarding the appalling bond policy which will halt their future aspirations, demoralize their virtues, restrict their progressive growth, cause brain drain which will eventually cripple their careers. After multiple meetings with the delegations, no satisfactory response was given to the students. Hence to show support to these students and to restore their spirits, It was decided that RDA would stage a symbolic protest by organizing Pen-down on 19/11/2022, 21/11/2022, 22/11/2022 and 23/11/2022 (1,2,3 and 4 hours respectively)."

"Until this hour no positive response has been given by the Government and the competent authorities. As per the common consensus in the meeting with the residents, it was decided that if the Government authorities give no concrete response then we will be escalating the protest. We hereby withdrawing all our services from OPD, wards & elective OT from 24/11/2022, if the government and competent authorities do not give any positive response in 48 hours then emergency services will be withdrawn," it further added.

Warning about their future course of action, Pankaj Bitthu said, "If the Government does not listen to us, the students can take certain major steps. We have been protesting peacefully. But there are around 1700-1800 students in Haryana who are getting affected. So, the situation might go out of control at any time."

Also Read: Protest against MBBS Bond Policy continues: Haryana Students reject new notification, demand reduction of Bond period, penalty amount