Reduce Bond penalty to Rs 20 lakh, service duration to 1 year! TN Resident Doctors move Health Dept

Chennai: Tamil Nadu resident doctors have urged the Government to reduce the bond period for Non-Service Post Graduates from 2 years to 1 year and also reduce the bond amount from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for PG medical degree holders and from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for diploma holders.

In this regard, the Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors Association (TNRDA) wrote to the Director of the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) on 30.01.2025. Apart from urging the authorities to reduce the bond period and bond amount, the association also demanded that bond postings should be issued within 1-3 months of course completion and requested for the release of original certificates if bond postings are delayed beyond 3 months.

Expressing gratitude for the Government's efforts to support medical professionals and improve healthcare in the State, the association requested the implementation of revised bond conditions for Non-Service Post Graduates (NSPGs) completing their courses in 2024, in alignment with recent Government Orders and committee recommendations.

Referring to the Government Order issued by the Health Department on 27.10.2023, which addressed the implementation of bond service for Non-Service Post Graduates, the association mentioned, "This G.O., along with earlier recommendations, has set a precedent for reducing the bond period and bond amount, which we request to be extended to the 2024 batch of NSPGs."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in a major relief to the non-service postgraduate medical students in Tamil Nadu, the State on 27.10.2023 had 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.

The State Government had announced its decision after the Madras High Court bench in its 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).

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.

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

Now, writing to the DME, the resident doctors urged the Government to extend the benefit of the reduced bond amount and bond tenure for the 2024 batch as well.

They justified their demands by pointing out that "Extending these revisions to the 2024 batch ensures consistency and fairness among Non-Service Post Graduates. Timely postings and reduced bond conditions facilitate smoother transitions for graduates into service or higher education," added the doctors, while requesting the Health Secretary and Department of Health and Family Welfare to consider these requests and issue necessary orders to implement the revised bond conditions for the 2024 batch.

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