*Proposal finalized, only Cabinet nod left
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, June 17: In a significant policy shift aimed at strengthening healthcare services in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territory is set to introduce mandatory service bonds for doctors pursuing postgraduate medical degrees (MD/MS) from Government Medical Colleges. The move is part of a broader effort to address the shortage of specialist doctors, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
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Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo confirmed that the Government is in the final stages of implementing a policy requiring MD/MS graduates to serve in the region for a period of 2 years after completing their education. “The Ministry has approved the proposal and it will now go to the Cabinet. As soon as the Cabinet nod is given, this policy will be implemented in the UT,” she asserted.
“We are very positive about making this change,” said Itoo, noting that it is a “much-needed requirement” to safeguard the healthcare interests of the people of J&K. She emphasized that postgraduate medical students are trained using public resources and must contribute to local healthcare in return.
The service bonds would be contractually binding, aligning J&K with 16 other States and Union Territories that have already adopted similar mandates. As announced in the Assembly earlier this year, the service obligation will apply to all MD/MS students enrolled in Government-run medical colleges in J&K.
Each year, around 557 MD/MS seats are available in J&K Government Medical Colleges (excluding PG diploma seats), with approximately 50% filled through the All India Quota (AIQ). The remaining seats go to local candidates, who would be required to fulfill the bond obligations once the policy is enacted.
Service bonds are already a common practice across several Indian States, with durations ranging from 1 to 5 years. Non-compliance typically results in financial penalties between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, depending on the state and specialization. The Supreme Court has upheld the validity of such service bonds, stating they are not a “restraint of trade” but a legitimate recovery of training costs.
Healthcare professionals and policy advocates in J&K have long called for this move to ensure equitable healthcare delivery, especially in remote regions. The upcoming bond policy is seen as a step forward in bridging the specialist gap and reinforcing public health infrastructure across the Union Territory.
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