Shillong, July 25: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has demanded for strict action against sponsored MBBS students, who failed to honour their promise to work in rural hospitals in the state. The HYC also suggested the need for for increasing the bond amount for such sponsored MBBS students to Rs 1 crore from next academic session.
The MBBS students admitted under state quota in institutes outside the state sign an agreement promising to serve rural hospitals for five years or pay the bond amount (to get exempted from the condition), after completion of their studies. However, many students choose to return the bond amount instead, leading to failure of the bond’s objective to address the shortage of doctors in government hospitals. Worse, many don’t even consider the need pay the bond amount!
After submitting a memorandum to health minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Friday, HYC president Roykupar Synrem demanded for strict action against such violators and revision of the bond amount to Rs 1 crore from the academic session 2026-27 for undergoing MBBS course under the state quota.
RTI findings earlier revealed that between 2015-16 and 2019-20, the state government sponsored 359 students to pursue MBBS courses in various institutes, he said.
However, 96 students failed to report to the government, violating the bond agreement.
According to RTI findings, they also did not respond to notices issued from Director of Health Services on October 8, 2024 and April 2, 2025, the HYC said.
Meanwhile, the HYC urged the government to fill up vacant posts of medical officers, specialists, paramedical staff, nursing staff, and ministerial staff in various CHCs, PHCs, and sub-centres across Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
Despite government norms requiring each CHC to have 4 medical officers and 6 specialists, and each PHC to have 2 medical officers, pharmacists, and lab technicians, most CHCs and PHCs are understaffed, Synrem said.
The HYC has further urged the government to set up dialysis units/centers in government hospitals and CHCs across Khasi-Jaintia Hills to support patients suffering from renal diseases.
The council has also raised several other matters requiring urgent interventions, including deployment of medical officers and specialists in PHCs and CHCs, making AYUSH dispensaries operational, and upgrading sub-centers and PHCs.
