Covid duty for medicos can halve rural service

To ensure more doctors serve in Covid-19 hospitals, given the lack of senior doctors where vacancies abound, the State government has come up with a scheme for young doctors. In a policy decision for those who have completed their MBBS or MD/MS degrees and have to serve in rural areas, the health department has decided to help them redeem their bond term by serving in Covid-19 hospitals instead. As many as 86% of medical students have refused rural service in past five years. The scheme is meant to attract them to serve in rural and peripheral areas.

The notification issued on Tuesday states that those serving in Covid-19 facilities will be able to redeem double the time of their rural service.

A senior official told Mirror, “If a person with recent medical degree is yet to complete his/her rural service against the medical bond, they can join the service and redeem it. If someone has one year of service left, just six months of service in Covid-19 facility is enough to redeem the bond. Similarly, only three months are needed in Covid for someone with six months of rural service left.” Medical students get seven years after MBBS or equivalent degrees to complete rural service for which they have to furnish a bond at the time of admission. If the student goes for higher education, the same is kept in abeyance for that period.

“This is a great opportunity for the students to complete rural service in half the usual time . By serving in Covid-19 hospitals, they are also helping in the effort against the pandemic,” Dr VG Vanzara, director of Medical Education and additional secretary at Gujarat Health and Family Welfare Department said.

But those opting for this scheme could be posted in any Covid-19 facility across the state, Dr Vanzara said.


Medical bond fight

July 4, 2020:Students of self-financed medical colleges challenge State govt decision to furnish Rs 20-lakh bond in lieu of serving in rural ares at the end of bachelor’s degree. Notice issued to State . Hearing on July 30.

April 3, 2020:State orders 288 specialist doctors who had passed out in 2013-14, to appear at their places of posting .

January 30, 2020:Govt reiterates that MBBS medical bond has been increased from Rs 5lakh to Rs 20 lakh and time for rural service reduced from three to one year. MD/MS bond raised to a cumulative Rs 40 lakh.

September 10, 2019:Govt waives off Rs 50 lakh bond for students pursuing Magister Chirurgiae (MCh) in Paediatric Surgery and Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery (CTVS).

August 14, 2019:Government reduces bond service for MBBS students from 3 year to 1, increases bond amount to 20 lakh.

(Inputs by Nikunj Soni)