Patients at receiving end as students shut OPD services at Rohtak PGIMS

MBBS STUDENTS ALONG WITH RESIDENT DOCS OBSERVED A HUNGER STRIKE AT THE PGIMS

The health services were affected at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, on Thursday after MBBS students, who have been protesting against state government’s bond policy, shut down the out-patient department (OPD) and elective surgeries wards. The PGIMS wore a deserted look as fewer patients and their relatives came there.

The MBBS students along with resident doctors observed a hunger strike at the PGIMS.

Priya Kaushik, a MBBS student, said they have decided to intensify their stir and would like to gherao the residence of BJP MLAS.

“Today, we have also decided to gherao the circuit house in Rohtak, where Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala came but he invited us for talks. A delegation of students held a meeting with him and the deputy CM has assured us of raising the voice before the chief minister. We will meet nursing association members and urge them to join the strike. Moreover, we will seek support from the students of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) and ask them to join our stir,” she added.

Ankit Sheoran from Dadri said he along with his grandfather came to the PGIMS for knee treatment but they went back as the OPD services were shut down. Talking to reporters in Rohtak, Chautala said he would read all the points mentioned in the bond policy and try to rectify it, if needed, after holding a meeting with the chief minister.

Earlier, the protesters had suspended OPD services for an hour on Saturday, two hours on Monday, three hours on Tuesday and four hours on Wednesday.

According to the state government’s bond policy introduced in November 2020, MBBS doctors have to pay ₹40 lakh as a bond to the state government for admission to a government college.

As per the new notification dated November 7, “All candidates completing their MBBS course from government medical colleges in the state of Haryana shall have to execute a tripartite bond at the time of admission amounting to ₹36.40 lakh in government medical colleges and ₹32.80 lakh in government-aided medical colleges i.e. MAMC, Agroha, which will be signed at the time of admission between the candidate, bank and government.”

“The said loan/bond shall be implemented at the end of MBBS course if the candidate does not opt to serve in the government of Haryana upon selection. The moratorium shall be extended in case of candidate who wishes to pursue postgraduation,” the notification stated. However, the students have rejected the new notification.