1-year service now mandatory for Delhi medical graduates

The Delhi Government has introduced a mandatory one-year service bond for medical graduates completing their studies from both all India quota and state quota institutions.

Under this new regulation, students graduating from undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including super-speciality programmes, will be required to serve for one year in medical institutions under the Government of the National Capital Territory (GNCT) of Delhi, according to the order issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department of the Delhi Government on September 19. The initiative, which has been given a go-ahead by Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena, aims to ensuring a consistent supply of healthcare professionals in the region.

Doctors see red

This is unacceptable to the medical fraternity. We strongly oppose the forced labour and enslavement of doctors in this manner. Does IIT-Delhi have a bond? Dr Rohan Krishnan

Upon admission, undergraduate students must sign a bond worth Rs 15 lakh, while postgraduate and super-speciality students will need to submit a bond of Rs 20 lakh.

If they choose to opt out of the mandated service period, these financial commitments will be forfeited.

Under this new scheme, UG graduates will be placed in Junior Resident (JR) positions, while PG graduates will take on Senior Resident (SR) roles. Both categories will receive stipends equivalent to the current JR and SR pay, with additional increments for super-speciality graduates.

Medical graduates will be assigned to various hospitals under the GNCT, including society hospitals, and may also be deployed to other facilities as needed by the Health and Family Welfare Department.

A committee led by the Dean of Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) has been formed to assess the need for more JR and SR positions. If required, new positions will be created to accommodate these graduates.

The mandatory service bond will be implemented starting from the next academic session. Meanwhile, current medical graduates will have the option to voluntarily take available JR or SR positions in GNCTD hospitals, with remuneration set by the government.

“This is unacceptable to the medical fraternity. The L-G should immediately revoke this order. We strongly oppose the forced labour and enslavement of doctors in this manner. Does IIT-Delhi have a bond? Do DU colleges have a bond? The government is now planning to take the best doctors from top hospitals and send them to PHCs or sub-optimal hospitals. Recently, a screening committee highlighted deficiencies in many Delhi Government hospitals. Instead of addressing those issues, this is what’s happening,” said Dr Rohan Krishnan of Maulana Azad College in a post on X.