Shimla: Relief for PG Medical Aspirants

In a major relief to the PG medical aspirants in the state, the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to reduce the bond money for MBBS doctors who pursue higher medical courses from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

Confirmation to this effect was given by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who informed that the Himachal Pradesh cabinet has approved a policy on tendering bond money for MBBS doctors pursuing Post Graduation courses including Master Degree in Medicines and Surgery (MDMS) degree or diploma, super specialty courses (DM/MCH and Diplomate of the National Board (DNB) courses).

Speaking in the state assembly on the third day of the ongoing budget session, Thakur said the state cabinet decided to reduce the bank guarantee by half in its Tuesday meeting.

Intervening to a supplementary query raised by CPI (M) member Rakesh Singha, regarding relaxing the norms of bond policy for PG doctors during the question hour, CM Thakur said that the decision to reduce the bank guarantee from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 5 lakh has been taken to encourage the doctors to pursue PG courses. Moreover, the condition of the bond had been made more stringent.

Resident doctors of state medical colleges have been protesting against the bank guarantee policy for a long time. The state government had resorted to this stringent policy in order to prevent brain drain from the state.

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Earlier, replying to Asha Kumari's question regarding chemotherapy facilities, Health Minister Vipin Parmar said adequate steps were being taken to strengthen treatment facilities for cancer patients in the state.

BJP MLA from Nurpur Rakesh Pathania also asked when chemotherapy facilities would be made available at RPG Medical College Tanda for the benefit of patients from Kangra district and nearby areas.

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