BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has waived the contentious bond system that had mandated compulsory three-year service for medical graduates after completion of their courses.
In a recent order, the Health and Family Welfare Department has made it clear that there will be no bond provision for MBBS course. It will only be applicable for candidates of post-graduate and super-specialty courses.
The duration of service in the condition of bond shall be for a period of two years in any health institution under the State Government instead of three years as prescribed in an earlier resolution.
The amount of penalty for defaulters will be double the amount of stipend received during study period for direct candidates and double the amount of salary received during study period for in-service candidates.
In 2012, the Government had made a resolution stipulating that MBBS pass-outs must serve for three years in tribal areas after completing their medical, dental and other paramedic courses in the Government institutions.
The Government is learnt to have decided to revoke the imposition bond system as it had led to absenteeism in the tribal dominated remote areas and failed to solve the real purpose of fulfilling the vacancies in periphery hospitals.
The Government has also directed the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) to rework on the actual requirement for creation of posts, both for periphery and medical education cadre.
Joint Director of DMET has been asked to find out how the bond is implemented in other States and how the candidates are posted after completion of course in those States.
Bond condition will be waived for those candidates who join as assistant professor through the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) in Government medical colleges of the State. A system should also be placed for holding recruitment by OPSC periodically to absorb these candidates, the order stated.
In case no appointment is given by the State Government within six months after completion of the course, the candidates will be released from the bond conditions and the bond will lapse, the order clarified.
The Health Department has also decided to prepare a guideline on bond provision for pursuing medical education in the State.