WHY HARYANA MBBS STUDENTS ARE UPSET OVER BOND POLICY

The Haryana government’s contentious bond policy has evoked strong protests from the MBBS students, who have been striking work and staging protests against it. The policy compels the students to work for the state government for seven years on completion of their course. Hitender Rao looks at the pros and cons of the matter.

1 What does the bond policy mandate?

The MBBS students studying in government institutions have to execute a ₹ 36.40 lakh tripartite bond at the time of admissions. This has been done to ensure that they serve for the government for seven years.

2 How does the bond policy work?

If a medical student on the completion of graduation opts or gets to serve in a Haryana government public health institution, then the government will repay the annual instalments of the loan, including the interest, till the time the doctor continues to serve in government public health institutions or government medical colleges, the maximum duration being seven years.

3 What if the medical student opts not to serve the government?

He would have to shell out the ₹ 36.40 lakh sum to the government. The bond will be implemented at the end of the MBBS course if the candidate does not opt to serve in the government after his selection. No bond money is required to be paid at the time of admission.

4 What is the rationale behind introducing the bond policy?

The move is aimed at utilising the services of doctors, who are beneficiaries of subsidised medical education in government institutions for public good.

5 Why the medical students are protesting against the policy?

The students say that the bond amount of ₹36.40 lakh is unjustified and unreasonable, there is no surety that they will get a regular government job and the prospects of getting a contractual appointment in government institutions will not offer them commensurate remuneration.

6 What’s the legal position on the bond policy?

The Supreme Court, in a 2019 judgement, has upheld the bond policy imposed for super specialty courses by several states.

7 What are other complaints of medical students?

The students feel that the bond amount which they will avail through a bank loan will be an impediment in the way of higher studies and specialization, talent will be nipped in the bud and being forced to work for government will be a violation of their rights.

8 What are the observations of the courts regarding the bind policy?

Courts have held that state has a legitimate interest in ensuring the students, who benefitted from the infrastructure created by it, must contribute back to the community by public service. Huge infrastructure has to be developed and maintained for running medical colleges with post-graduate and super specialty courses. The amount of fees charged from the students is meagre in comparison to the private medical colleges.

9 What did the SC say about a uniform policy for bonds?

The apex court suggested that since certain state governments have rigid conditions in the compulsory bonds to be executed by students, suitable steps be taken by the central government and Medical Council of India to have a uniform policy regarding the compulsory service to be rendered by the doctors who are trained in government institutions.

10 What has the Central government done so far?

The Union ministry of health is learnt to be deliberating the matter and reportedly proposes to discard the bond policy on basis of recommendation of national medical commission.