NMC urges States, UTs to do away with seat leaving bonds in medical colleges
NMC said that they have received grievances about the "alarming levels of stress, anxiety, and depression" faced by medical students, especially PG students.
National Medical Commission (NMC) has urged the medical colleges in various states and UTs to do away with seat leaving bonds. The aim is to provide students with a supportive environment and also help them to have better mental health.
In a letter addressed to the Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education of all states and UTs, President of the Under Graduate Medical Education Board of the NMC, Dr Aruna V Vanikar advised to the medical colleges that instead of imposing a heavy seat-leaving bond, states may consider debarring students who wish to leave their seat from admission in their state for the next one year.
NMC's letter said the Commission has received grievances about the "alarming levels of stress, anxiety, and depression" faced by medical students, especially PG students across various institutions, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Dr Vanikar added that the mental health challenges are primarily due to the inability of the individual to acclimatise with a different environment prevailing within their new colleges/institutions as compared to the one in which they had grown up or completed undergraduate education.
"A noteworthy impediment hindering affected students from seeking relief is the imposition of a hefty seat-leaving bond. Such exorbitant amounts not only exacerbate the financial strain on students but also act as a deterrent for seeking necessary mental health support from the family," Dr Vanikar said in the letter on January 19.
The seat leaving bond policy is a common practice for medical students especially for PG students. The concept was started to secure commitment, discourage abrupt resignations, and address the issue of seat blocking and wastage of medical seats.
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