Gandhinagar: Total 359 doctors did not report at the places of their appointment after completing their studies from the government medical colleges as of 31st December 2022, stated the state government in reply to a question asked by an opposition MLA in the state assembly.

State health minister Rushikesh Patel said that the state government is in process of forming a new policy for recovering the bond amount, which will be declared soon. A bond of Rs 20 lakh from MBBS students, Rs 40 lakh from PG students and Rs 50 lakh from super speciality students will be taken. The certificate-degree will not be given to the students till they don’t serve in the rural areas for 1.5 years after their course, and they won’t be able to do private practice as well. He added that Rs 139 crore were recovered as bond amount in the last 3 years.

The opposition MLAs, in the state assembly, asked questions about the doctors not serving at hospitals and clinics in rural areas and not paying bond amount after completing MBBS from the government medical colleges. The collection of the bond amount of Rs 18 crore 25 lakh by the state government is pending, as informed by the state government.

Congress leader Amit Chavda and other opposition MLAs demanded to take strict actions against the doctors not reporting at their appointment places and quickly recover the bond amount.