Only 107 doctors out of 225 have reported for work in rural areas as per their one-year bond.
While joining medical courses like MBBS/ PG/ diploma in state and civic-run medical colleges, students have to sign a bond saying they will serve in a rural area for a year after completing the course. If they don’t, they have to pay Rs20 lakh (MBBS) and Rs50 lakh (PG/ diploma) as fine.
The state health department has made a list of doctors who have not joined work in spite of opting for it.
After students complete their medical course, the medical education department asks the health department to allot them hospitals for the rural posting.
“After we get a list from the medical education department, we allot students places of posting.
But, some doctors have not yet turned up. On Tuesday, we will submit the list of doctors to the medical education department, which will then decide action against them,” said Dr Satish Pawar, director, state health services.
The government started the rural posting system in 1998.
They are paid Rs30,000 to Rs35,000 a month during their rural stint as medical officers.
The bond penalty for those who opt out of it was Rs1 lakh for the first batch which graduated in 2002-03. It has been increased to Rs20 to Rs50 lakh. The fine is Rs2 crore for those who have completed super speciality courses.
The Directorate of Medical Education and Research says it’s the duty of students, who get subsidised education, to serve the society before taking up other jobs or studying further.
The rural stint will not only improve the quality of health services across the state but will also help doctors prepare themselves for practice, it says.
Dr Santosh Wakchaure, president of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors, said: “We had never opposed rural service. The government has right to take action against those who opt out of the bond.”
Work among the poor or pay fine
The government started the rural posting system in 1998.
They are paid Rs30,000 to Rs35,000 a month during their rural stint as medical officers.
The bond penalty for those who opt out of it was Rs1 lakh for the first batch which graduated in 2002-03. It has been increased to Rs20 to Rs50 lakh. The fine is Rs2 crore for those who have completed super speciality courses.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}