Gujarat’s Health Minister Reveals Rs 671 Crore Collected from Non-Compliant MBBS Doctors

In a significant announcement on Friday, Gujarat’s State Health Minister, Rushikesh Patel, revealed that a substantial sum of Rs 671 crore has been amassed from MBBS doctors who opted not to fulfill their one-year rural service commitment post-education. An additional outstanding amount of Rs 270 crore is yet to be recovered from doctors who have not adhered to the service obligation.

The state government’s bond policy mandates that students benefiting from subsidized medical education commit to working in rural areas within the government’s health setup. Minister Patel emphasized that those unwilling to fulfill this bond period are obligated to pay a penalty of Rs 20 lakh.

Addressing concerns about non-compliance and the actions taken against students failing to complete their bond period, Patel clarified that the state government lacks the authority to prevent universities from conferring medical degrees upon such students.

Expanding Medical Seats and Recruitment Policy

Acknowledging the persistent shortage of medical doctors in various health facilities, Patel provided insights into Gujarat’s efforts to address the issue. Currently, the state offers 7,050 medical seats, with a continual increase in this number. Over the past two years, 1,350 new MBBS seats have been introduced to augment the healthcare workforce.

Discussing the recruitment policy for medical officers, Patel outlined that all MD and MS doctors expressing interest in government service will be appointed directly as class 1 officers. However, a recent recruitment drive through the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) saw about 500 candidates being offered appointments as class 2 officers. Notably, many candidates declined these appointments due to ongoing higher studies or existing medical practices.