Rs 671 crore Collected from MBBS Doctors As Bond Penalty: Gujarat Health Minister

Gandhinagar: Altogether Rs 671 crore has been collected from the MBBS doctors as a penalty for non-completion of mandatory rural service, the State Health Minister of Gujarat Rushikesh Patel stated recently.

He further added that another Rs 270 crore is yet to be recovered from such doctors who do not wish to serve the rural areas for one year after completing their education.

As per the government policy, students who get to avail the benefit of subsidized medical education, are required to sign a bond promising to work in the State Government's Health setup in the rural areas.

The bond conditions specify that the doctors will have to pay Rs 20 lakh as a bond penalty if they fail to fulfill their bond obligations. Commenting on the matter, the Minister said, "Those who do not wish to complete the bond period are required to pay Rs 20 lakh."

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As per the latest media report by the Times of India, the Minister was also asked about the steps taken by the Government against the students who do not wish to complete the bond period. Responding to this, the Minister informed that the State Government cannot stop the universities from conferring medical degrees on the students. 

Responding to these statements made by the MLAs that there is a shortage of medical doctors in the PHCs, CHCs, district hospitals and civil hospitals, the Minister informed that as of date, the State has 7,050 medical seats available, and this number is increasing steadily. He further informed that in the past two years, 1,350 new MBBS seats have been added to the seat matrix.

"The policy of appointing class 1 medical officers is clear. All MD and MS doctors interested in working in the govt will be directly appointed. As for class 2 medical officers, the govt recently gave appointment letters to about 500 candidates through the GPSC, but many of them did not accept because they were pursuing higher studies or were practising," informed the Minister.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year the Gujarat Government formulated a new bond policy for doctors who fail to adhere to their service bonds after completing both MBBS and Postgraduate medical courses. As per the new policy, doctors will have to serve only one-and-a-half years instead of the mandatory service of two years.

This proposal for the new bond policy was announced by State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel during the Question Hour at the State Assembly. The Minister had informed that the student has to pay Rs 20 lakh bond fee for MBBS and Rs 40 lakh for the PG course for freeing from the bond.

Also Read: New Bond Policy: Gujarat proposes 1.5 years of Mandatory Service for doctors completing MBBS, PG degree