Edu-leaders

Aspiring for admissions into Jharkhand-based medical colleges? Think twice before doing it.

The Jharkhand government is framing admission rules under which aspiring medicos will have to sign an agreement to serve the state for at least three years after acquiring degrees from medical colleges. Those willing to leave the state without serving the stipulated period will have to pay Rs 3 lakh as fine.

The new norms will become operational from the current academic session and would apply to all students who take admissions into the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital (MGMMCH), Jamshedpur, and Patliputra Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Dhanbad.

As per the recently approved guidelines of the Medical Council of India, these medical colleges will together enrol 250 students in different courses of MBBS. Of the total, 45 students will be from the central quota, whose admissions are taken on the basis of merit list prepared by the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE). 

“This rule, however, would not apply on those taking admissions under the central quota,” said Jharkhand Health Secretary K Vidyasagar.

The state government has proposed conditional service clause in the admission in keeping with serious shortage of medical professionals. The state, at present, requires around 3500 doctors, but it has less than 2000, including 400 medical professionals working on contract.

Justifying the move, former national Vice President of the Indian Medical Association, Ajay Kumar Singh said the state government spends about Rs 4-5 lakh on each medical student. “Serving at least three years in the state would not be a great deal for doctors in lieu of spending on them. However, the government should also try to give better working atmosphere and pay package to doctors,” said Singh.