Do away with seat-leaving bond: NMC to states, UTs

Do away with seat-leaving bond: NMC to states, UTs

 DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi : The National Medical Commission (NMC) has asked states/UTs to do away with the ‘seat-leaving bond’ policy in medical colleges. The policy refers to a contract between the medical college and student that mandates the latter to pay a hefty amount – ranging anywhere between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 40 lakh or more if she or he decides to discontinue the course midway. The practice is prevalent in both government and private-run medical colleges. According to Dr Aruna V Vanikar, president of NMC’s Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), the Commission has received numerous complaints relating to alarming level of stress, anxiety and depression faced particularly by PG medical students across various institutions. 

“These mental health challenges are primarily due to inability of the individual to acclimatise to a different environment prevailing within their new college/institution as compared to the one in which one has grown up or completed undergraduate education,” says Dr Vanikar in aletter to health secretaries of all states and UTs. She adds that the imposi- tion of a hefty seat-leaving bond acts as an impediment for affected students in seeking relief. “Such exorbitant amounts not only exacerbate the financial strain on the students but also act as a deterrent for seeking necessary mental health support from the family,” said the letter and urged states/UTs to do away with the practice in medical colleges. “An action taken report by your government on this issue will be highly appreciated,” she said. 

Sources said the decision to write to the states/UTs on this issue was taken in a meeting of NMC’s anti-ragging committee on Jan 9. The committee recommended that instead of imposing a heavy seatleaving bond, states/UTs may consider debarring the student from admission in their state for the next one year. Signing of seat-leaving bond, a common practice for medical students especially at PG level, started with the aim to secure commitment, discourage abrupt resignations, address the issue of seat-blocking and waste of medical seats. But NMC says since number of medical seats has increased substantially, the issue of seats going waste is not of much significance. “Also seat-blocking is valid till counselling is on and after the session has started and last date of admission is over, the negative effect of lower merit candidates being benefitted by leaving of seats does not arise,” it adds. NMC highlighted seven instances where parents bore the financial cost to relieve their children of the stress and anxiety by paying the surety amount as mentioned in the seat-leaving bond. 

Dr Rishiraj Sinha, general secretary of the Federation of All India Medical Association, said: “The elimination of seatleaving bonds is a welcome move to prioritise the well-being of resident doctors leading them to provide optimal patient care, treatment and management. A supportive and stress-free work environment for resident doctors is directly proportional to improved healthcare outcomes and quality patient care.”