Srinagar, Nov 27: Eight months after its announcement, the mandatory two-year service bond for MD and MS postgraduates in Jammu and Kashmir has failed to materialise, with the proposal stalled in bureaucratic processes. The Health and Medical Education Department confirmed that the file remains pending with the Finance Department.
Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo had announced in the Legislative Assembly this March that doctors earning postgraduate medical degrees from J&K would be required to serve in rural hospitals. “They get their degrees from the money of our people; they must give something in return to our people,” she had said.
In August, the department sought a response from the Finance Department regarding the financial implications of the proposal. However, three months later, no progress has been made. Minister Itoo expressed anguish over the delay, stating, “It has been eight months since the proposal was sent from our side. We are serious about implementing it, but they are not clearing it.”
As per the proposal, NEET PG candidates admitted to MD and MS programmes in Government Medical Colleges would be required to sign a bond of Rs 50 lakh at the time of admission. Postgraduates would serve two years in Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, Sub-District Hospitals, or District Hospitals, receiving stipends equivalent to Senior Residents. Failure to fulfill the obligation would result in forfeiting the bond amount.
The annual financial implication of the proposal is estimated at Rs 40.35 crore for 638 PG seats across 10 government medical colleges. The Finance Department has sought clarifications, including comparisons with National Medical Commission guidelines, which direct states to frame their own bond policies without penalties for leaving seats mid-course.
The delay has raised concerns that the policy will miss the 2025-26 admission cycle. Observers note the contrast with states such as Uttarakhand, where PG medical students face a Rs 2.5 crore penalty for failing to complete mandatory service, which includes three years of government duty with at least one year in rural areas. For MBBS graduates, Uttarakhand mandates a five-year service period with a Rs 1 crore bond.
