Mumbai: Taking a serious view of the
reluctance shown by medicos in Maharashtra to join government
medical services for a year after their graduation, the health
department is considering a proposal to stop financial
assistance to those students who don’t want to fulfil the bond.
"The government spends nearly Rs 30-40 lakh on each
student and it is expected that they commit themselves to
serve in government medical service especially in rural areas
for a year. If they do not wish to serve in rural areas in
government service, they should pay the full fees like in
private colleges," Health department officials said.
If they violate the bond, Rs 50,000- Rs two crore can be
recovered from them. The penalty amount varies for diploma,
graduate and post-graduate medical courses, they said.
It has been noticed that students neither pay the bond
amount nor join the stipulated one-year government service
bond.
In a bid to ensure co-ordination, health department held
regular meetings with Medical education ministry for the
three months since June this year to increase the number of
students in the bonded placement.
About 275 students were given placements in the first
week of September as per their area of interest and were asked
to join duty by September 22. However, only 91 students
including 44 MBBS reported for duty. And after the health
department complained to the Medical education department,
more 200 students reported for work.
The total vacancies this year in the bonded placement
was over 400. Sources said Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan
will soon convene a meeting to discuss the issue.
In the last five years, it has come to the notice of
the health department that students are not inclined to serve
in rural areas and also in government service. It is mandatory
for bonded candidates to serve in government hospitals.
"Since the penalty for violating the bond is not
recovered, the arrears are now to the tune of around Rs 70
crore," sources said.
Health department officials feel that there is a need to
change the manner in which appointments for bonded placements
are made. As of now, they are given placements in vacant posts
only. The graduate and post graduate students feel that they
should be appointed in posts of subjects of their curriculum.
From October three, the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi scheme
will be implemented in eight districts and later will be
extended to the entire state. The free medical treatment will
include serious ailments and surgeries. "Hence, medical
experts will be required. For this purpose, graduate and post
graduate students in specialised medical courses were
necessary," sources added.
A National urban health mission is likely to be
conceptualised based on the existing National rural health
mission. "Treatment, diagnosis, medical infrastructure needs
to be upgraded in urban areas and hence more number of medical
officers will be required," sources said.
The health department is of the view that the number of
sanctioned posts for bonded candidates placement needs to
be increased.
PTI
