Uttarakhand plans 5-year mandatory service for all MBBS doctors before PG; Rs 1 crore penalty in place

The Uttarakhand Department of Medical Education is working on a new rule that will require all MBBS doctors to complete a five-year mandatory service in government health institutions before pursuing postgraduate medical courses.

The proposal comes amid rising concerns over a significant number of doctors exiting government service within months of joining, often to take up PG seats elsewhere.

“The Uttarakhand health department is drafting a new policy that would require MBBS graduates to complete a mandatory five-year tenure before enrolling in any postgraduate programme. The clause will apply to MBBS graduates from anywhere in the country seeking to join the state's government health sector,” the Times of India reported.

The draft regulations will be placed before the Cabinet for final approval, it said.

In September, the state government terminated the services of 56 bond-holding doctors who were absent for a long time.

Uttarakhand state health and medical education minister Dhan Singh Rawat had instructed officials to take action against 234 absent bond-holding doctors who had graduated from government medical colleges in August, along with the recovery of dues. Of them, 178 doctors returned to work after receiving the notice, while 56 doctors “ignored the final warning”.

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Uttarakhand MBBS bond policy explained

Under the existing MBBS bond policy 2017, a student enrolled in UG medical courses on subsidised fees in government medical colleges should serve five years in government hospitals and health centres located in hilly districts. Failing to complete the mandated service period will lead to a penalty of Rs 1 crore.

In the first year, MBBS doctors are posted in district hospitals or base hospitals in nine hilly districts, excluding Dehradun, Nainital, Haridwar, and Udam Singh Nagar. In the following years, they are posted to Community Health Centres in the same districts.

The mandatory service for MBBS students was increased from three years to five years in 2017 after the state medical board found that many bond-holder doctors were reportedly trying to evade the compulsory service bond.

Some even filed writ petitions in courts to avoid the service obligation, resulting in an adverse impact on health service in Uttarakhand.

As per the amended rules, double the daily salary of those students marked absent for 1 to 10 days will be deducted for each day of absence. If they are absent for more than 10 days in a month without a medical certificate, their one-month salary will be deducted.