Do not retain degrees of PG Medicos, let council take appropriate action: TN Medical Council tells State Govt

Chennai: Instead of retaining the degrees of the Postgraduate medical students who have not served their bond service period, the Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC) has requested the State Government to complain before the State Council instead.

While the Council has requested the Government to ensure immediate posting orders for the PG medicos, it has also warned the doctors of action in case they do not comply with the bond service agreement.

Such a resolution has been taken by the Council as it took cognizance of the plights of the Postgraduate medical students who face huge trouble earn their living with their degrees withheld by the Government.

In the recently held special business meeting, TNMC discussed the matter regarding the bonds of PG medical students in the state-run colleges. Speaking about the same, Dr. K Senthil, the President of TNMC explained that the situation in Tamil Nadu is much different than other states in India. He mentioned, "Almost all the specialties in the state are saturated and the problem is that the government is not able to give posting to the PG medical graduates. Therefore, their posting orders sometimes get delayed by 2-3 years."

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Calling the practice of withholding the degrees as "not fair", Dr. Senthil told Medical Dialogues, "It is true that these medicos executed the bonds with the government. However, they also have a right to earn their living. If their degrees remain retained by the Government, they would not be able to get specialist jobs in the absence of their PG degrees. Therefore, TNMC passed a resolution and asked the Government to give postings to these medicos at the earliest and not retain their degrees. If they do not comply with the bond terms the Government can complain before the Medical Council and TNMC will take action. However, retaining their degrees is not fair."

Referring to the impact of the situation, he added, "Incidentally, we came across several specialist doctors who are working without valid Postgraduate degrees with lesser pay. When we inquired about it we came to know that their degrees had been retained by the Government."

In the past few months around 100 PG medicos had moved to the High Court in this regard and at that time the High Court had directed the DME to return their degrees and certificates. However, the ruling was applicable for the petitioner doctors only, said Dr. Senthil.

He also mentioned that since 2020 the council has started giving out e-certificates to UG and PG medicos. The first PG batch that will receive the e-certificates will graduate in 2023. However, in that case, the Government can still retain their UG medical degrees.

"Bond service agreement is a civil execution of bond and violating the same would attract civil action. Alternatively the government can complaint before the TNMC," opined Dr. Senthil.

When asked what kind of TNMC might take against the doctors if they do not comply with their bond terms, he clarified that it would be treated as a misconduct. Having issued an undertaking for serving the bond period and now not complying with it without valid reason is a misconduct and the doctors would face council action.

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