Penal action against MBBS graduates for skipping bond service, PG aspirants to serve till admission
Mumbai: Through a recent circular, the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has directed MBBS graduates in Maharashtra who have completed their internships before March 31, to go through the mandatory bond service this year failing which call for penal action.
The circular dated 16.04.2021 specifies the names of 2,479 candidates who have completed the internship by 31st March 2021 and are eligible for the internship.
Though the circular has made it quite clear that penal action would be taken against those MBBS graduates who would fail to comply with the specified institute for the one-year bond service within the stipulated period, for the students who do not want to join the bond service, the exemption will only be granted when they pay Rs 10 lakh as a bond, as is the rule.
Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that as per the circular, all MBBS graduates who have completed their internship on or before 31st March 2021, and who have not completed their Bond service till date were directed to apply for bond service under the Commissionorate of Health Services, Mumbai through the following procedure.
The circular also mentioned the process of online application within April 21 and the recently graduated doctors were asked to mandatorily give preferences for all eight Circles including Thane, Pune, Nashik, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Akola, Aurangabad and Latur.
As per the latest media report by the Times of India, the Director of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Dr TP Lahane has recently shed more light on the matter. He specified the candidates keen on pursuing post-graduation will also have to serve the bond till they secure a seat for the PG course.
Addressing the issue of fulfilling the bond service of one year, Lahane told TOI, "Post-graduate entrance exams have been postponed in the country. Whenever students get a seat they can opt-out, but till then they will have to complete the bond service. We are in a pandemic and action will be taken against students resisting the bond service. The compulsory bond will ensure we have doctors in district hospitals and rural centres too."
To mention, all the students sign the bond at the beginning of their medical education. However, in most cases, they do not honour it. However, the Government has taken strict measures considering the ongoing pandemic.
TOI adds that the DMER will be deploying over 7,000 medical interns on Covid duty across the state soon. It will also create a pool of 11,000 graduating nurses available for fresh appointments in hospitals facing a shortage. Thus, as the state facilities are increasing to deal with the pandemic, more manpower would be necessary, especially in the rural areas.
Meanwhile, the circular has placed the students amidst multiple confusions. For instance, the students have sought to know why Mumbai is not available as an option to choose during the application process.
While commenting on the concern, an MBBS graduate told the daily, "The process has moved online for the first time, but there is no clarity on several aspects."
Mentioning that there are several jumbo Covid-19 facilities in Mumbai itself, another student added, "The circular says, students getting an allotment will have to report to the institute within seven days, failing which penal action will be taken. But without clarity on whether Mumbai will be allowed at a later stage, how do we apply online now?"
Adding that the doubts should be clarified in another circular, a parent representative Sudha Shenoy asked, "If PG aspirants complete a few months of bond service before their admissions, will it be carried forward later?"
Meanwhile, Lahane has informed TOI that students who have already started working at Covid centres will be allowed to continue.
Also Read: DMER allots vacant bond service posts to students of MUHS PG Summer 2020 Batch
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