Mandatory 2-Year State Service for PG Doctors: New Rules in Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand government is preparing to amend regulations for doctors. Under the proposal, doctors pursuing postgraduate (PG) studies at government medical colleges will be required to serve in state government hospitals for two years.

The state government is planning a significant policy change for doctors pursuing post-graduation at government medical colleges in Uttarakhand. Once the proposal is implemented, it will be mandatory for doctors completing their PG studies at these colleges to serve in Uttarakhand's government hospitals for two years. To ensure this, a two-year service bond will be executed with the doctors at the time of admission.

The Directorate of Medical Education has submitted a proposal to the government regarding these rule changes. This move is being taken in response to the shortage of specialist doctors in the state. Reports indicate that approximately 50 percent of specialist doctor positions in both government hospitals and medical colleges are currently vacant.

Bond to be Executed at the Time of PG Admission

According to the proposal, a two-year service bond will be signed with all MBBS doctors enrolling in PG courses at government medical colleges. Consequently, after completing their PG studies, doctors will be required to serve in Uttarakhand's hospitals for the stipulated period. In other words, instead of seeking employment outside the state after obtaining their PG degree, doctors will provide their services in state government hospitals for two years. Through this system, the government aims to increase the availability of specialist doctors within the state's healthcare system.

System to Apply to 260 PG Seats

There are a total of 260 PG seats across government medical colleges in Uttarakhand. The government plans to fill all these seats under the bond system. Doctors will be informed of these service conditions at the time of admission, and the bond will be executed based on these terms. The proposal also includes a provision for an annual fee of ₹60,000 to be charged to the doctors.

Shortage of Specialist Doctors

The objective of this decision in Uttarakhand is to address the shortage of doctors. The scarcity of doctors has been a major challenge for the government for some time. It has come to light that nearly half of the specialist doctor positions in government hospitals and medical colleges remain vacant. In this scenario, once PG seats are filled under the bond system, the services of doctors who complete their studies will become available to the state's healthcare system for a certain period. State Medical Education Minister Subodh Uniyal also announced the decision to amend PG admission rules, citing the shortage of specialist doctors in the state.