Ladakh makes Govt service compulsory for MBBS/BDS/PG aspirants

Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 24: To overcome the shortage of doctors and specialists in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the UT administration has decided to implement Compulsory Government Service Policy for those candidates who obtain admission in MBBS/BDS/Post Graduate Courses in various disciplines of Medicine or Surgery (both clinical and non-clinical) on the basis of Reservation Quota of the UT.
All candidates who apply for admission in any Medical College/ Dental College/institutes of medical sciences for any UG/PG courses like MBBS/ BDS, MD/MS or Diplomas in various disciplines on the basis of Reservation Quota of Ladakh, must execute a compulsory service bond to serve in the Union Territory of Ladakh for a prescribed period immediately after the completion of the course, if the Administration requires so.
“All the candidates of the UT of Ladakh availing reservation benefit of ST Quota/UT of Ladakh Quota/any other Quota seats shall have to execute a Service Bond in favour of the Ladakh Administration stating that he/she shall serve under the UT Administration for a period of 3 years immediately after successful completion of PG Degree Courses and 2 years immediately after successful completion of PG Diploma Courses and Dental Speciality Courses,” said a notification issued by Ladakh Administration.
Further, the candidates of UG Courses (MBBS/BDS) selected under ST Quota/UT of Ladakh Quota/any other Quota seats outside the Union Territory of Ladakh shall have to execute a Service Bond in favour of the Ladakh Administration stating that he/she will serve under the UT Administration for a period of 5 years in case of MBBS Courses and 3 years in case of BDS Courses immediately after successful completion of the Course.
The Bond has to be executed and submitted in original in the office of the Director Health Services, Ladakh by all the aspirants of the MBBS/BDS, MD/MS or PG Diploma Courses. This policy shall come into force from the academic session 2021 and onwards.
However, in the event of failure to serve the stipulated period under Ladakh Administration as per the Bond, the pass outs of PG Degree/DNB/Diploma Courses in clinical subjects (General Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Otorhinolaryngology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Anaesthesiology, Paediatrics, Opthalmology, Psychiatry, Respiratory Medicine, Radio Diagnosis, Radiotherapy, etc) shall pay the UT Administration an amount of Rs 50 lakh while the pass outs in Pre & Para Clinical Subjects (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Community Medicine, etc) and Dental Sciences shall have to pay Rs 45 lakh and Rs 35 lakh, respectively.
Similarly, if a pass out of MBBS course or BDS Course fails to serve the Ladakh Administration for the prescribed period, he/she will have to pay an amount of Rs 50 lakh (in case of MBBS Course) or Rs 30 lakh (in case of BDS Course) to the UT Administration. However, in case a candidate who fails to complete the course after getting admission under Reservation Quota, he/she will have to pay half the Bond amount to the Ladakh Administration.
The Service Bond obligation will not apply to a candidate if his/her appointment (in either National Health Mission or Health Department on temporary or quasi permanent basis) is not made by the Ladakh Administration within a period of 10 months from the date of communication to the Administration regarding his/her successful completion of the course and his/her eligibility for service. However, every candidate must have to formally inform the Administration of Ladakh regarding his successful completion of the course immediately after it is completed.
“If any candidate violates the terms and conditions of the Bond, he/she has to face stern disciplinary action as per the regulation 8.2 under chapter 8 of the Indian Medical Council Regulation 2002 or Regulations of Indian Dental Council. Further, any outstanding amount payable to the Administration by the applicant, will be recovered from him/her as arrears of land revenue,” read the notification.