The NMC's Anti-Ragging Committee recommended that states may instead consider debarring students from admission in their state the next year.
While colleges are mandated to provide suitable residential facilities, postgraduate students are not obligated to stay in the hostels. (Supplied)
First-year female PG student, at a private medical college in Telangana, reported mental harassment and restriction from going home by the seniors and college authorities. She wishes to resign but cannot do so due to the heavy seat-leaving bond imposed by the college and has expressed suicidal thoughts.
– A case study of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Anti-Ragging Committee
In this distressing instance, the postgraduate student faced difficulty escaping the toxic environment, primarily due to the restrictive “bond policy” enforced by medical colleges across states and Union Territories (UTs). This policy effectively hinders students from leaving the college.
Recognising such issues, the NMC strongly urges states and Union Territories to eliminate the seat-leaving bond policy in medical colleges to cultivate a more supportive environment for students, addressing their mental health concerns.
The Anti-Ragging Committee of the NMC recently proposed an alternative to the heavy seat-leaving bond. Instead, states may consider debarring students, who wish to leave, from seeking admission in their state for the next year. This recommendation comes in response to the grievances received by the Commission, highlighting elevated “levels of stress, anxiety, and depression” among medical students, particularly postgraduates, across various institutions.
In a letter addressed to the Principal Secretary of Health and Medical Education of all states and Union Territories, Dr Aruna V Vanikar, President of the Under Graduate Medical Education Board of the NMC, emphasises the urgent need to address the alarming mental health challenges faced by medical students.
These mental health challenges are primarily due to the inability of the individual to acclimatise with a different environment prevailing within their new colleges/institutions, as compared to the one in which they had grown up or completed undergraduate education, Dr Vanikar said.
“First-year female MD (Paediatrics) student at a private medical college in Uttar Pradesh was under stress due to a toxic working environment in the college. Her parents have to pay the hefty amount of the seat-leaving bond for the health of their daughter, who later joined the government medical college next year. This exorbitant financial burden on parents raises questions about the fairness and appropriateness of seat leaving-bond policy.
– A case study of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Anti-Ragging Committee
The concept of seat-leaving bond, a common practice for medical students, especially PG students, was started with an aim of securing commitment, discourage abrupt resignations, address the issue of seat-blocking and wastage of medical seats.
However, in the last 10 years, medical seats, including PG seats, have increased substantially and even remain vacant.
“Therefore, the issue of seat being going waste is not of much significance in view of the increased number of medical seats. Another issue of seat blocking is valid till the counselling is going on and after the session has started and the last date of admission is over the negative effect of lower merit candidate being benefitted by leaving of the seat does not arise [SIC],” Dr Vanikar stated in the letter dated 19 January.
“A noteworthy impediment hindering affected students from seeking relief is the imposition of a hefty seat-leaving bond. Such exorbitant amounts not only exacerbate the financial strain on students but also act as a deterrent for seeking necessary mental health support from the family,” Dr Vanikar said.
While some parents can support their wards by bearing financial constraints, the unlucky ones “may commit suicide in such mental health condition,” she said.
A female student from North East enrolled in MS (General Surgery) at a government medical college in Madhya Pradesh for the 2021-22 batches faced mental harassment due to ragging and toxic working environment, has to leave the course by paying a hefty as a seat-leaving bond. Aspiration to be a doctor from North East and her parents who has joined with great hope of better medical education went off and sent a wrong message for the medical education aspirants.
– A case study of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Anti-Ragging Committee
A first-year MS (General Surgery) student at a government medical college in Maharashtra reported ill-treatment by seniors, forced menial work, and financial demands. Pressure to withdraw complaints is evident by the fact that a senior female resident accused in ragging filed a complaint of sexual harassment against him. The poor first-year student was so afraid of the toxic environment in the college that he left the seat by paying a hefty amount of seat-leaving bond, for which poor farmer parents have to sell their agriculture land.
– A case study of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Anti-Ragging Committee
The elimination of seat-leaving bonds is a strategic move to prioritise the well-being of resident doctors, empowering them to provide optimal patient care, the letter stated.
A supportive and stress-free work environment for resident doctors translates directly into improved healthcare outcomes, re-enforcing the symbiotic relationship between the well-being of medical professionals, and the quality of patient care, it stated.
Considering the gravity of the situation, the NMC’s Anti-Ragging Committee, in its meeting held on 9 January, decided to take action to address this pressing issue.
The Committee has recommended that state and UT governments should review the seat-leaving policy in medical colleges/institutions and do away with the same, Dr Vanikar stated.
“On behalf of the NMC’s Anti-Ragging Committee, I am requesting you to kindly review the seat-leaving bond policy in medical colleges in your state at your level and do away with the seat-leaving bond. Your efforts in this regard will go a long way in creating a supportive and nurturing environment for medical students. This, in turn, will foster their mental health and enhance their overall well-being leading to a positive transformation in the medical education system,” Dr Vanikar stated.
The NMC has also sought an action taken report by state governments on the issue.
The seat-leaving bond policy for postgraduate medical courses in India varies by state and institution. Each state has its own criteria and bond policy that needs to be signed by the candidate before being admitted to various medical colleges in India. The bond is a legal contract between the college and the student that obligates the MBBS graduates who will be appearing for NEET PG to secure a seat for PG medical courses in various institutions.
The terms and conditions of these bonds differ as per the quota of seats, type of institution, and the rules defined by the state government’s Health Department in the case of government medical colleges. There are three major types of bonds in medical colleges: service bond, discontinue penalty bond, and bank guarantee.
The bond amount and duration also vary by state and institution. For example, in Karnataka and Kerala, the bond amount is ₹50 lakh for a one-year service bond, while in Rajasthan, it is ₹25 lakh for a two-year service bond, and the discontinue penalty bond is ₹5 lakh. In Andhra Pradesh, this amount is only ₹3 lakh, while Telangana doesn’t have any bond policy.
(With PTI inputs)
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