Doctors who studied under Ladakh quota need to serve in UT for minimum 5 years

Ladakh government has modified its government service policy for doctors, now the doctors who studied under its quota will either have to serve for minimum five years or pay a penalty of INR 50 lakh.

After facing an acute shortage of doctors in the region, the Ladakh government has made it compulsory for doctors who have studied under the Ladakh quota to serve for a minimum of five years in the UT or pay a penalty of INR 50 lakh.

"To address this shortfall, from the ongoing academic session, every candidate who avails of the Central pool or J&K pool of MBBS seats meant for Ladakh will have to execute a compulsory service bond in favour of Ladakh administration that she/he will serve in the UT for a minimum of five years, failing which he/she will pay Rs 50 lakh, the order stated. The original bond will be submitted to the Director, Health Services, Ladakh," reads the order.

“In the case of a PG course, the compulsory service period is fixed at three years. However, in case of failure to serve the stipulated period mentioned in the bond, the candidate will have to pay Rs 50 lakh to the Ladakh administration, according to the order. Upon successful completion of a medical course other than MBBBS or PG, the candidate will have to serve in the UT for a minimum of two years, and if she/he fails to do so, the doctors will have to pay Rs 45 lakh to the administration,” added the order.

Now onwards, any doctor who got admitted to medical colleges in other parts of the country against the seat reserved for Ladakh needs to follow this after completing their five-year MBBS course. If they fail to do so, they will have to pay the penalty amount, as per an order issued last week by Ladakh’s Health and Medical Education Department.

At present, Ladakh is facing an extreme shortage of doctors. Highlighting this Principal Secretary, Health, Dr Pawan Kotwal said, "At present, 44 per cent positions of medical officers in Ladakh are vacant, and less than 100 out of 175 sanctioned medical officers are working in the UT," as reported by Indian Express.

“This compulsory government service bond is to be executed only by candidates who avail the Central and J&K pool seats that are filled on the basis of Ladakh-specific merit list, and not those who get admission on all-India or J&K medical entrance examinations,” he added.

Medical seat Matrix of Ladakh: J&K, Central govt provide few seats to UT

Due to fewer doctors in Ladakh, the J&K administration allots a few seats for MBBS/PG degrees, DNB/PG diplomas and paramedical in clinical and non-clinical courses across Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, the UT is also allocated 6 to 7 MBBS seats out of the Central pool by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare every year.

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