Goa Medical College postgrads to do 3 year mandatory service

Panaji: Goa Medical College postgraduates have to complete a three-year mandatory service bond after their post-graduation announced Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane, recently.

The Minister said that Doctors completing their speciality MD's will be posted in rotation at government hospitals and health centres across Goa. This he said was being done to help patients living in different parts of the state to avoid travelling to seek speciality treatment at district hospitals.

"The bond will be strictly implemented from now. After the bonds were invoked, some doctors have been posted at Ponda and Mapusa. The orders for postings of another 25 (doctors) will be issued soon. Once all health centres across Goa are covered, we will know the total requirement of doctors. Then we can fix a figure of our requirement. Once we arrive at this figure, we will work out a rotation system for the doctors," Rane told TOI.

The bonds will have doctors work as per a pre-decided schedule in different health centres during their bond period.

The burden is meant to be lessened on Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim, and Hospicio in Margao, with the introduction of the rotation system; and travel for patients reduced to less than 30 Km, for speciality treatment. According to Rane, since bonds had not been implemented in Goa till now, there had been no provision made for postgraduates being paid a salary in the state budget.

"In the upcoming budget, the provision will also be made for those who will be completing their postgraduation. We get sufficient funds under the national health mission, which can be utilised for the purpose. They will be drawing a salary from the directorate of health services," said Rane.