Gandhinagar: Gujarat govt has begun examining changes to the compulsory service bond system for students graduating from govt medical colleges, with the health department initiating consultations on potential reforms. The govt has indicated that it is open to adopting Maharashtra’s recently announced model if found suitable.Minister of state for health Praful Pansheriya said govt has launched an exercise to “improvise and change” the existing bond system and directed the health department to conduct a detailed study before reaching a decision.“We have started the process of reviewing how the bond system can be improved. I have directed the secretary to study the issue and consult students as well as other stakeholders.
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Govt will take a decision on the matter soon,” Pansheriya said.The move comes days after Maharashtra govt decided to abolish the mandatory service bond for MBBS graduates.Asked whether Gujarat could adopt Maharashtra’s approach, Pansheriya said govt was keeping all options open. “We are open to following the Maharashtra model as well if it suits Gujarat. We will take a decision keeping in mind the best interests of both students and society,” he said.Under the current system, MBBS students from govt medical colleges who opt out of the mandatory service period are required to pay a bond amount of Rs 20 lakh (MBBS), while the bond amount for postgraduate medical students (MD/MS/DNB) is Rs 40 lakh and students with super specialty (DM/MCh/DrNB-SS) is Rs 50 lakh. The current system requires MBBS graduates from govt medical colleges to complete one year of compulsory govt service, generally in rural or underserved public health facilities, or pay the prescribed bond amount.Former state health minister Rushikesh Patel said in Feb 2024 that Rs 671 crore was collected from MBBS doctors who did not wish to serve for one year in rural areas after completing their education. He added that Rs 270 crore was still to be recovered from such doctors.Dr Tushar Patel, secretary of the Gujarat State Branch of Indian Medical Association, said that it is a welcome move. “IMA had made a representation to the state govt on the same issue earlier. We also wrote recently on the issue that several of the doctors on bond period do not get posting,” he said.Sources from the medical fraternity said with majority of the doctors paying the bond money instead of serving in the rural areas, we should find a better way to engage the young doctors.
