Haryana MBBS students in dilemma over government’s bond policy; seek clarity on various aspects before consent

In dilemma over Haryana government’s “Service Incentive Bond” policy, the MBBS students of government medical colleges have sought administrative and policy-level clarifications stressing complete disclosure of service terms and safeguards before giving their consent.

The policy to incentivise doctors to opt for government service upon completion of MBBS degree from government and government-aided medical colleges in Haryana was notified in 2022 and is applicable from academic session 2020-21 onwards. As per the policy, the candidates need to execute a tripartite agreement signed between them, the bank and the government, and opt for government service after completion of MBBS degree in lieu of a bond of Rs.30 lakh minus the total annual fee, with a concession of 10 % on bond amount for female candidates.

The government will repay the entire bond amount with interest to the bank in lieu of the service rendered by the candidate in government, else the candidates have to repay it.

MBBS Intern, PGIMS, Rohtak, Akshat Mittal, a 2020-21 batch student, told The Hindu over phone that the government was seeking written consent from the students slated to complete their degree this month without clarity on various aspects of the policy. He said the students of various government medical colleges had also written to the Director, Medical Education & Research (DMER), Haryana, Yashendra Singh, in this connection through their respective deans.

A detailed 17-point memorandum was also submitted by the representatives of the students to a delegation of Haryana Vidhan Sabha Committee on Health Services and Medical Education, comprising 11 MLAs, during their visit to Pt. B.D. Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak on Tuesday, highlighting the students’ concerns related to the implementation of the policy.

The student representatives sought clear written clarification on various aspects of the bond policy, including service conditions, salary structure, posting, medico-legal protection, postgraduate studies, bond exit mechanisms, and document-related issues. They also urged that no binding consent be taken from students until all doubts were formally clarified. The issue was not opposition to government service, but the absence of Standard Operating Procedures and detailed guidelines, said the student representatives.

Mr. Mittal, Head, Public Relations, Under-graduate Students and Interns Association, PGIMS Rohtak, said for a bond policy to be ethical and effective, it must be accompanied by guaranteed job availability, transparent posting and transfer policy, fair remuneration, safe working conditions and clear exit clauses. Without these, he said, the bond policy failed its original aim and turned into a coercive, revenue generating or restrictive policy, rather than a public health tool.