No more Exit Bonds for MBBS: Maharastra to amend Medical Council Act

Maharashtra The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) is planning to make amendments to the Medical Council of Maharashtra Act, 1965 by introducing abolishment of exit bonds and bringing in of all private hospitals, clinics and health centres under the purview of the council. The aim behind the amendments is to increase the responsibility of medical students towards rural service tenures as well as increase the accountability of the doctors and hospitals accountability.

The next assembly session is to witness the tabling of the Medical Council of Maharashtra Act, 1965 with the inclusion of the amendments.

The key takeway from the amendment would be to the one of compulsory rural service for MBBS doctors, whereby MBBS doctors would no longer have the option to pay a fine and exit the bond service.

Confirming the same Dr Shivkumar Utture, President, MMC informed Mid-day, "We're already done with the first draft, where we've suggested abolishing the policy of exit bonds. The proposal has been mooted as every year, thousands of MBBS students in government colleges skip the mandatory bond service in rural areas, and pay a fine of Rs15 lakh. So, to make going to rural areas compulsory for them, we don't want to give them the option of paying fines."

Maharashtra would be the first state in India to abolish the system of paying fines, if the amendments are implemented. However, the council would require the approval of the state Assembly for it.

"We'll be ready with the requested amendments in the coming months. Following which, we would present it in the state Assembly's next session for approval. This would help bridge the gap between supply and demand of doctors in rural Maharashtra," added Utture.

In recent times, facing a severe shortage of doctors particularly in rural areas, the government has been resorting to numerous efforts in order to ensure availability of physicians. Last year, Taking cognizance of the evasion of compulsory bond service by many doctors after completing their graduate, postgraduate and super-speciality degrees from the government medical colleges of the state, the Maharashtra Directorate of Medical Education has through a notice informed such doctors that their registrations shall not be renewed with the State medical council.

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