DEHRADUN, Uttarakhand – The Uttarakhand Department of Medical Education is developing a new policy mandating five years of government service for all MBBS doctors before they can pursue postgraduate medical courses. This includes a strict penalty of Rs 1 crore for non-compliance.
The proposed rule aims to address a critical shortage of doctors in state health institutions. It also targets a trend of recent MBBS graduates leaving government service quickly, often within months, to join postgraduate programs.
“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 Times of India reported. The policy specifies that this clause will apply to MBBS graduates from across the country seeking employment in Uttarakhand’s government health sector. The draft regulations await final approval from the state Cabinet.
Addressing Doctor Shortages
Uttarakhand faces ongoing challenges in retaining medical professionals, especially in its rural and hilly regions. The state’s existing health infrastructure relies on a stable workforce to provide essential services. The rapid departure of doctors after their initial recruitment has strained the healthcare system, particularly in underserved areas.
This new proposal reinforces the government’s commitment to ensuring adequate medical staff across its public health facilities. It seeks to create a more consistent presence of doctors in areas where they are most needed, thereby improving public health outcomes.
Recent Enforcement Actions
In September, the state government took decisive action against doctors who violated existing service agreements. Officials terminated the services of 56 bond-holding doctors who had been absent for extended periods.
Uttarakhand’s Health and Medical Education Minister, Dhan Singh Rawat, had earlier instructed officials to pursue action against 234 absent bond-holding doctors who had graduated from government medical colleges in August. These directives also included recovering outstanding dues.
Following notices, 178 doctors returned to their assigned duties. However, 56 doctors reportedly disregarded the final warnings, leading to their dismissal.
Existing MBBS Bond Policy (2017)
The state currently operates under the MBBS bond policy of 2017. This policy requires students who receive subsidized fees for undergraduate medical courses at government medical colleges to serve five years in government hospitals and health centers. Specifically, service is mandated in hospitals located in the state’s hilly districts.
Failure to complete this required service period results in a penalty of Rs 1 crore .
Service Placement Details:
- During their first year, MBBS doctors are typically posted to district hospitals or base hospitals within nine hilly districts. These districts exclude Dehradun, Nainital, Haridwar, and Udam Singh Nagar.
- In subsequent years, doctors are assigned to Community Health Centres (CHCs) within the same designated hilly districts.
The mandatory service duration was increased from three years to five years in 2017. This change occurred after the state medical board identified instances where many bond-holding doctors were reportedly attempting to evade their compulsory service obligations. Some doctors even filed writ petitions in courts to avoid their service responsibilities, negatively impacting healthcare services across Uttarakhand.
Absenteeism Rules under 2017 Policy:
- For absences lasting 1 to 10 days, double the daily salary of the absent doctor is deducted for each day missed.
- If a doctor is absent for more than 10 days in a single month without a valid medical certificate, their entire one-month salary will be deducted.
The new proposed policy appears to broaden the scope of mandatory service, extending it to all MBBS graduates seeking government positions in the state, regardless of their fee structure during medical school, further strengthening Uttarakhand’s efforts to retain its medical workforce.