Government Medical College Graduates in Odisha Mandated to Serve 2 Years in State

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to address the shortage of doctors in the state, the Odisha government has revamped its policy for doctors graduating from government medical colleges. The Health and Family Welfare Department has implemented a mandatory bond for all medical students seeking admission to government medical colleges, applicable to various PG courses.

The bond requires candidates to commit to serving in any health institution within the state for a minimum of two years after completing their MD, MS, MDS, DM, M.Ch, or other specified courses. Admissions will be contingent upon the submission of this bond, and the State Medical Council will not release a No Objection Certificate for doctors seeking registration in another state without clearance from DMET Odisha regarding bond fulfillment.

The revised policy also ensures that certificates will not be withheld by the colleges after admission, allowing for their release once the admission process is concluded. However, if a candidate pursues higher studies immediately after completing a course, the bond will become effective upon their return, requiring a declaration in the form of an affidavit before a JMFC.

Doctors serving in Odisha under the State Government, including roles such as Senior Resident, Tutor, Faculty in Medical Colleges, or Medical Officer in PSUs, will have this service counted towards fulfilling the post-PG bond.

Private healthcare institutions must obtain an affidavit from doctors confirming compliance with bond provisions before engaging their services. Failure to serve the stipulated two years in the state after completing a course will result in a monetary penalty, double the amount of stipend/salary received during the study period.

Additionally, candidates leaving a course prematurely, leading to the lapse of a seat, will face a monetary penalty of Rs 10 lakh along with the stipend/salary received until the date of withdrawal. Non-payment of penalties will trigger recovery procedures under the Odisha Public Demand Recovery Act, 1962.

DMET Director Sachhidananda Mohanty emphasized the universality of the rule, stating that it would be enforced in private medical colleges as well. He highlighted the government’s commitment to providing healthcare for all and deemed the penalty, twice the stipend or salary, as a reasonable measure to attract more specialist doctors to public service.