SC upholds compulsory rural tenure policy for MBBS students, suggests similar policy for PG Medical students

Supreme Court in its ruling yesterday, upheld the policy regarding compulsory rural tenure for MBBS students graduating from Government Medical College, implemented by several state governments. The apex court hailed the policy as a step in the right direction to ensure availability of quality healthcare services in the rural India. At the same time, Supreme Court has also asked the central government to frame a similar policy that will be applicable to PG Medical students who are pursuing their postgraduate and specialty level medical studies in government medical colleges.

What will be Policy Do?

In implemented, much like MBBS students, students who are admitted to PG Medical courses offered by Centrally Aided Government Medical Colleges will have to sign a bond at the time of admission committing service of a minimum tenure in rural areas. The mandatory bond would make the medical student provide their services in designated rural areas, public hospitals and healthcare centres for a minimum prescribed period as defined in the bond. In case the student failed to fulfil the conditions outlined in the bond, they will be required to pay a set penalty for the same, as defined in the bond.

SC acknowledges Govt Spending on Medical Education

In its ruling, the Supreme Court also acknowledged that the Central Government spends a significant amount of its education budget on opening of new medical colleges and facilitating medical education at affordable fees for the students. Simply put, the government makes quite a sizable chunk of investment in making doctors. Therefore, it is only right that it expects them to serve in rural areas to boost healthcare services and provide quality healthcare to the people of the country.

Uniform Penalty and Service Period

Currently, several state governments, including Gujarat, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal have implemented such policy for MBBS students. The court upheld this policy and deemed it as ‘not illegal or arbitrary’. However, the apex court has not standardized the service tenure to 2 years and bond penalty amount as Rs 20 lakhs.