The Meghalaya government on August 22 admitted that there is an acute shortage of doctors in the state and has asked all MBBS doctors who had signed a bond with the government to serve in the state health department to report within this month, failing which they will be asked to repay their bond amount.
The government’s appeal is significant in the wake of the acute shortage of doctors while fighting COVID-19 which has now gone into community spread in the state.
“We have an acute shortage of doctors. The government has sent many candidates to study MBBS, they have signed a bond. It’s natural for them to work for the government hospitals. They are not supposed to work in other hospitals,” Director Health Services (MI), Aman War said.
He said the state government had sent many candidates to study MBBS on state quota and signed a bond with them.
“It is natural for them to work for the state in various government hospitals. If they are in Shillong they are to report to the directorate or the health department will be forced to ask them to repay back the bond ranging from Rs 10-25 lakhs,” War said.
The senior medical official said that those who do not want to serve in the government should remember that time when they wanted to pursue their MBBS, they got a free medical seat through the state government.
“That’s why we urge them to join and serve in government hospitals,” War said. He warned that those who fail to report to the directorate of health and family welfare within this month, the government would take action and publish their names.
“We have approximately 50 MBBS passed-out students and those who are here working in some other hospitals, we asked them to come and report to the government. The state is facing a shortage of doctors and we are going to advertise for filling up of 120 vacancies,” he said.
