Shillong, Aug 20: The state government is considering a proposal to increase the bond amount for MBBS students studying under state quota in order to retain maximum such doctors for service in the state.
“Whether or not we can increase the bond further is something which is still under consideration,” health minister Ampareen Lyngdoh told reporters on Tuesday.
She was reacting to a query about the demand for increasing the bond amount due to several state-sponsored MBBS students choosing to serve outside the state by paying the bond amount. Some of them even have not bothered to report back to the government at all.
The minister expressed hope that the government would be able to review the matter productively and make a decision that would benefit the state and its people.
Pointing out that the issue of bond of MBBS students is not new, the minister said the government had faced difficulties with regard to doctors who failed to report back to the state after completing their courses.
However, with the establishment of the Meghalaya Medical Registration Council, the situation has improved, and students are now required to register with the state board after completing their MBBS course, she said.
“So things are better. We are grateful to the chief minister and the cabinet for having agreed and consented the cabinet note which constituted this board,” she added.
Lyngdoh mentioned that the bond amount had been increased over the years.
“At one point, students had to give around Rs 34-35 lakh. Then it was increased to Rs 40 and then to Rs 46 lakh and the numbers keep increasing but we have seen that returnees are not really deterred by signing of a bond. It is not the monetary obligation that should guide our Meghalayan students,” she stated.
However, she emphasized that the focus should be on encouraging students to return home and serve their own people rather than just the monetary obligation.
“We also need to look at what kind of doctors do you want to get back to the state. Are you happy with just the MBBS doctors who are general practitioners or will you allow even bonded students to avail a higher study if they qualify for the all India quota for specialisation,” she said.
Stating that many medical students of the state are still engaged in various programmes across the country, she said, “Our doctors are out there acquiring knowledge and more degrees, but we would like to see them come back.”
