IMA calls Haryana Bond Policy "Unjust", plans to start Hunger Strike to support protesting medicos

New Delhi: The medical students in Haryana, who have been protesting against the 7-year bond service policy for the last 26 days, have now got the support from the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

Opining that the bond policy implemented by Haryana Government is "unjust", IMA HQ team joined the protesting students today and extended their support.

Not only this, but IMA also has announced its decision of beginning a relay Hunger Strike across all the districts of Haryana until the demands of the students are met.

More than 500 MBBS undergraduates have been protesting since last 26 days against the unjust bond policy implemented by the Govt. Of Haryana. Since beginning, they have been receiving immense support from various resident doctor associations and independent medical organisations. Amidst all this, Indian Medical Association- Haryana has been tirelessly working with and for students, so that justice may be served as early as possible.

Now IMA HQ has also come to their support and the central team joined the protesting students today. Issuing a Press Release in this regard, the Association mentioned, "To strengthen and speed up the movement, IMA-HQ National President Dr. Sahajanand Prasad Singh, IMA-HQ HSG Dr. Jayesh Lele, IMA-Haryana President Dr. Punita Hasija, IMA-Haryana IPP Dr. Karan Punia, IMA-Haryana Secretary Dr. Divya Saxena and IMA-JDN Haryana Chairman Dr. Karan Juneja joined the agitating students at PGIMS, Rohtak in the early morning today (26th November 2022)."

"All the senior doctors shared the words of wisdom and filled the students with a lot of positive energy. Dr. Sahajanand Prasad Singh assured the students that the whole medical fraternity around the nation supports the protest and that students do not need to worry about the background checks that need to be done. He also assured that all the doctors will come together whenever needed, if the state fails to provide the students justice that they deserve," the PR added.

Referring to the future course of action, the association mentioned, "Dr. Punita Hasija shared the future plan of action that will be taken by IMA-Haryana to strengthen the protest. Doctors of IMA will be beginning with a relay Hunger strike across all the districts of Haryana until the demands of students are met."

The association also mentioned about the students of PGIMS Rohtak who were on a hunger strike since last 48 hours. "10+ students of PGIMS Rohtak were on a hunger strike since last 48 hours, and as reported 2 of them showed severe symptoms of dehydration and were taken to emergency," mentioned the association.

"Afterwards, the delegation of IMA duly met Dr. S.S. Lohchab, Director PGIMS and requested him to provide 24 hours medical and security assistance to the students on strike. IMA also called the policy an unjust one, and that it must be completely reverted back to safeguard the future of medical education in the state," added the release.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, IMA-JDN Haryana Chairman Dr. Karan Juneja said, "First of all this bond policy implemented by Haryana Government is a loan agreement with the bank, which is not fair. Second, there are only limited posts available against the huge number of medicos who will be eligible for this bond service posts. So, the Government cannot ensure any guarantee regarding job opportunities."

Dr. Juneja added that "the Government should empower us and not enslave us," and further clarified, "We are totally in support of the students and we expect the State to withdraw the policy immediately."

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

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.

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)."

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. They are demanding the revision of bond service period from 7 years to 1 year and changing the penalty amount to Rs 5 lakh.

Escalating their protest, the MBBS students and Resident doctors belonging to all the government medical colleges in Haryana decided to shut down OPD, Ward and elective services (sparing the emergency and trauma) from Thursday onwards. They had further given the authorities an ultimatum of 48-hours. It was announced that if the Government does not respond, the protest would be further escalated.

Although the delegation of protesting medicos from all across Haryana met the Government officials yesterday, no solution has been provided from the Government's side.

Also Read: Despite Warning, Haryana medicos continue strike, delegations to meet CM today