Doctors will have to pay Rs 50 lakh for failure to serve in Ladakh UT for 5 yrs

Amendments carried out in Compulsory Govt Service Policy

Step taken in view of acute shortage of medicos

Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, June 21: Keeping in view acute shortage of doctors, the Union Territory of Ladakh has revised the Compulsory Government Service Policy and made it mandatory for candidate who avails Central Pool Ladakh Merit Seat or J&K State Pool Ladakh Merit Seat to serve in the Union Territory for minimum five years failing which an amount of Rs 50 lakh will have to be paid to the administration.
Moreover, any violation of the terms and conditions of the bond will be reported to the National Medical Commission of India for disciplinary action under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations.
The MBBS seats from Central Pool are being allotted every year to Union Territory of Ladakh by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. In addition, certain seats have been allotted by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to the Union Territory of Ladakh for MBBS/PG Degree in clinical, para-clinical and non-clinical courses/DNB/PG diploma in clinical and non-clinical courses specifically with a view to meet shortage of doctors in Ladakh.
As still there is a scarcity of doctors in the Union Territory of Ladakh and consequently urgent need to take certain measures to ensure availability of doctors to provide quality healthcare to the people, the administration has revised the Compulsory Government Service Policy, which was notified on August 23, 2021, and the same will be applicable from Academic Session 2022 onwards.
Now, every candidate who intends to avail a Central Pool Ladakh Merit Seat or J&K State Pool Ladakh Merit Seat will have to execute a Compulsory Service Bond in favour of the administration of UT of Ladakh and submit it in original to Director Health Services.
The selected candidate will have to serve the administration of UT of Ladakh for a compulsory period of five years immediately after successful completion of MBBS course and in case of failure the candidate will have to pay an amount of Rs 50 lakh to the administration. Similarly, the selected candidate will have to serve in the Ladakh for a compulsory period of three years immediately after successful completion of PG Degree in clinical courses and in case of failure to serve for the specified period the candidate will have to pay Rs 50 lakh to the administration.
Likewise, the selected candidate will have to serve the Union Territory of Ladakh for a compulsory period of two years after successful completion of Medical Course and in case of failure to do so for the specified period the candidate will have to pay an amount of Rs 45 lakh to the administration of the Union Territory.
Before allocating a Central Pool Ladakh Merit Seat or J&K State Pool Ladakh Merit Seat, the Director Health Services or J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) will obtain the bond in original from the candidate who intends to avail such a seat. “The obligation to serve compulsory period will not be applicable if his/her appointment is not made by the administration of Union Territory of Ladakh within a period of two months from the date of communication by the administration”, read the order.
A candidate, who is serving compulsory period, will be permitted to undergo PG Degree Course or PG Diploma Course only on the submission of proof of his/her selection to the course along with a request letter seeking permission to undergo the course to the Director Health Services, Union Territory of Ladakh. Moreover, the candidate will have to furnish a certificate duly signed by the Principal/ Head of the Institute/College by January 31 and July 31 every year stating that the candidate is undergoing the course.
“Any violation of terms and conditions of the bond will also be reported to the National Medical Commission of India for disciplinary action under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations”, the order further read.