NEET PG: Mandatory Service for 2 Years or Rs 50 Lakh Penalty- JnK proposes Bond policy
Bond Service
Srinagar: The Health and Medical Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir has proposed to introduce a two-year mandatory bond service policy for the postgraduate medical students.
After completing their PG medical courses, the NEET PG medical graduates in Jammu and Kashmir will have to undergo a two-year mandatory service, and if they opt out of the service, they will have to pay Rs 50 lakh as a penalty.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the plans of the J&K Government to implement a mandatory service bond for postgraduate medical students (MD/MS), requiring them to serve in the Union Territory (UT) for two to three years after completing their degrees.
The UT Government's initiative in this regard was to retain specialist doctors in J&K's healthcare system, which was a long-standing demand from stakeholders. Announcing the decision, Minister Sakeena Itoo had emphasized that medical graduates from J&K benefit from government-funded education and must contribute to the region’s healthcare system in return.
Also Read: Mandatory Bond Service to be Introduced Soon for MD, MS admissions in JnK
Recently, the Health and Medical Education Minister of the Union Territory, Sakina Itoo, confirmed that the Government was in the final stages of implementing a 2-year mandatory bond service period for the MD/MS students after completion of their courses.
On August 4, the Health and Medical Education Department of the UT announced the policy regarding a mandatory bond service for the PG medical students. Writing to the President of the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Council, Dr. Murtaza Rashid, Deputy Secretary to the Government, announced the introduction of mandatory bond service for the NEET PG medical graduates in Jammu and Kashmir.
"I am directed to invite your kind attention towards the captioned subject and to say that the Health & Medical Education Department, J&K intends to introduce Mandatory Bond Service for NEET PG Medical Graduates in J&K," mentioned the communication.
It added that to obtain opinion, the issue was taken up with the Finance Department, which advised "There is a uniform policy guideline from National Medical Commission/ Medical Council of India on this issue. The department is accordingly advised to furnish the information in tabular form by way of comparison of the proposal with that policy."
As per the notification dated August 4, the proposal to introduce a mandatory bond service for the PG medicos aims to strengthen the healthcare system, which will ensure their deployment in rural and peripheral hospitals across the UT, thereby addressing the shortage of medical professionals and improving healthcare services.
The proposed introduction of Mandatory Bond Service for NEET PG Medical Graduates in J&K is as under:
1. The bond of Rs. 50 Lakhs shall only apply to NEET PG Students.
2. The bond is to be submitted at the time of admission.
3. The mandatory service period shall be for 2 years after completion of the PG Course.
4. If a student opts out of the mandatory service, he/she shall have to pay the bond amount.
5. The PG doctors shall serve on the pattern of DRP in different health institutions (PHCs/CHCs/SDHs/DHs) as per the requirements of the department.
6. They shall be paid stipend or remuneration @ Basic Pay (only) as paid to SRs.
7. The annual financial implications per batch for all the 10 Government Medical Colleges, ASCOMS & SKIMS Soura @ Rs. 52700 for 638 PG Seats is Rs. 40.35 Crores
"In view of the above, it is requested to kindly furnish the requisite information as advised by the Finance Department in a tabulation form by way of comparison of the proposal with the policy," further mentioned the communication addressed to the J&K Medical Council President.
Meanwhile, the government's decision to introduce a mandatory bond service in the UT has been welcomed by the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA). Issuing a statement on Saturday, the President of JKSA, Ummar Jamal, said that the move is a significant step towards addressing the shortage of doctors in rural and peripheral areas of the Union Territory.
Jamal told The Rising Kashmir, "This initiative brings hope and relief to thousands of aspiring medical students and their families across J&K." He further added how the policy strikes a balance between service obligations and personal choice while staying in line with the guidelines of the National Medical Commission and the erstwhile Medical Council of India.
He further explained that by mandating the bond at the time of PG medical admission and offering the option to pay for service, the government has created a fair system that would benefit both the healthcare sector and the graduates.
Meanwhile, the National Spokesperson of the association, Zubair Reshi said that the policy would ensure that the doctors are posted to the underserved areas, resulting in improved healthcare access in regions that need it the most.
"It creates a structured pathway for NEET PG graduates to contribute meaningfully to public health," he mentioned, further appreciating the coordination between the Health and Medical Education Department and the Finance Department in finalising the policy. He mentioned how a comparison with national norms was carried out before implementation, to ensure that the framework is practical and consistent with practices in other states.
