Bond Service Relief: Tamil Nadu slashes tenure for Non-Service PG Medicos to 1 year, Bond Amount to Rs 20 Lakh

Chennai: In a major relief to non-service postgraduate medical students in Tamil Nadu, the State has reduced the tenure of the bond period from two years to one year. The bond amount has also been reduced by the Government from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

Issuing a Government Order on October 27, 2023, the State Health and Family Welfare Department announced its decision in this regard.

This comes after, the Madras High Court bench in the order dated 26.07.2023, directed the Deputy Director of the State Directorate of Medical Education to discuss the implementation of bond service for Non-service postgraduate by constituting a committee.

Accordingly, a committee was formed and the panel members suggested several measures including- reducing bond tenure of non-service postgraduates from 2 years to 1 year, issuing bond posting to non-service postgraduates in the same speciality, reducing bond amount from Rs 40 lakhs to Rs 20 lakhs, issuing bond postings within time (1-3 months), releasing original certificates of non-service postgraduates if posting order is not issued on time etc.

Previously, the Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association (TNMSA) and Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors' Association (TNRDA) also participated in a meeting with the DME and other officials in August and requested them to reduce the bond period to 1 year and reduce the bond amount. The doctors had also urged the authorities to extend maternity benefits to the doctors, and requested to post Speciality Doctors only in DMS/DME (not in PHCs).

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Taking note of the suggestions by the committee members, the Government on October 27 issued an order and reduced the bond period and bond amount for the non-service postgraduates.

Regarding the bond service tenure, the G.O. stated, "The bond period for Non Service Post Graduates (Degree/ Diploma) who have completed their Post Graduate courses in the year 2023 will be reduced from two years to one year (from the date of joining in the bond service) and the respective prospectus for the Post Graduate Degree course for the academic year 2020-2021 as well as for the Diploma course for the academic year 2021-2022 will be amended accordingly."

"The bond amount for the Non Service Post Graduates who have completed their Post Graduate Degree courses in 2023 will be Rs.20,00,000/- only (Twenty lakhs) instead of Rs.40,00,000/- (Forty lakhs) and for the Non Service Post Graduates who have completed their Post Graduate Diploma courses in 2023 will be Rs.10,00,000/- only (Ten lakhs) instead of Rs.20,00,000/- (Twenty lakhs)," it further added.

However, the State has clarified in the G.O. that depending on the need and availability of vacancies in the future, the Health Department will review and consider the enforcement of the 2-year bond condition every year.

"Depending on the need and availability of vacancies in the future, the Health Department henceforth will review and consider the enforcement of 2 years bond condition every year and issue necessary directions for utilizing the services of the Non-service Post Graduates in Tamil Nadu Medical Services and issue appropriate orders," clarified the order.

Addressing the Government's decision, Dr Keerthy Varman, former president of the Tamil Nadu Medical Students' Association (TNMSA) and General Secretary of Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors' Association (TNRDA) termed it as a victory of TNMSA and TNRDA and expressed his thanks to the Tamil Nadu Government.

"Finally G.O. came to reduce bond period to 1 year and reduce bond amount to 20 lakhs," he said, adding "In the same way, we believe they will allow NSPG (North Shore Physicians Group) bond doctors to study super specialty with undertaking letter along, without bank surety, for the welfare of NSPG doctors of Tamil Nadu."

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