Maharashtra doctors can't skip rural services by paying fine, says govt

A Government Resolution (GR) issued in Maharashtra stated that MBBS graduates in the state can now not skip rural services by paying the penalty of INR 10 lakh.

Maharashtra’s Medical Education department issued a Government Resolution (GR) which stated that MBBS graduates in the state can now not skip rural services by paying a penalty of INR 10 lakh. This decision will be applicable for all those taking admission to MBBS and dental courses from the academic year 2022-to 23.

As per the GR, all MBBS and dental students taking admission to government medical colleges or on government reservation seats in private colleges from the academic year 2022-23 will have to mandatorily complete the one-year rural service bond, which until now they could skip by paying a fine of INR 10 lakh.

“The provision of completing MBBS education from government and civic-run institutes, without completing the social responsibility service by paying a penalty, is henceforth being cancelled,” the GR stated, as reported by Indian Express.

Medical students need to sign a bond to serve in rural areas

After completing the medical degrees, these medical students need to ink a bond to serve in rural areas of Maharashtra for a year. Till the year 2004-05, the students who failed to serve in rural areas had to pay INR 5 lakh which later increased to INR 10 lakh.

This bond is called the 'social responsibility service’ and it is in addition to the existing 12-month compulsory internship for all MBBS students which is in hospitals attached to their respective medical colleges. Under this bond, the hospitals and health centres in rural areas will be allotted MBBS students to serve in the rural area.

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