Sponsored medical students, doctors still avoiding service in state

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Over 443 medical students and doctors sponsored by the State government have failed to join the state health services.

This was informed by the Minister in charge of Health & Family Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh while replying to a starred question tabled in the Assembly today.

She said the reasons that the sponsored medical students and doctors by the government have not joined the state health services are: “pursuing of post-graduate studies directly after completion of MBBS studies, students who have completed compulsory internship are required to serve compulsory bond in their respective place/state of study and student pursuing senior resident doctor (SRD).”

Lyngdoh informed that the total number of medical students belonging to the unreserved or general category who have been sponsored by the government to pursue medical studies till date is 237 (batch 1995-96 to 2023-24)

Out of this, only 12 (from the batch 1995-96 to 2017-18) have joined the state health services while 147 have refused to join, she added.

On the steps taken by the government to ensure sponsored doctors do serve the state, Lyngdoh said the government is executing a bond agreement and notices have been served to the MBBS students who have not reported/not joined with effect from 1995-1996 to 2012-2013.

Meanwhile, the minister informed that around 400 doctors have been recruited by the Meghalaya Medical Services Recruitment Board (MMSRB) in its first recruitment drive.

“In the second round around 50 specialists and 70 medical officers will be recruited,” she said.

She said that the total number of medical students sponsored by the government in different medical colleges of the country is 1,650 (batch 1995-96 to 2023-24).

Of these, only 948 have joined the state health services, she added.