Gandhinagar: Gujarat’s Health Minister Rushikesh Patel announced the recovery of ₹671 crore from MBBS doctors who opted out of mandatory rural service after graduation. This comes with ₹270 crore still outstanding from such doctors.
The state’s bond policy mandates subsidized medical education in exchange for a one-year stint in rural healthcare setups. Doctors opting out pay a penalty of ₹20 lakh.
Responding to concerns about enforcing the policy, Patel clarified that the government cannot prevent universities from awarding degrees. However, he highlighted the state’s commitment to increasing medical seats, with 1,350 added in the past two years, bringing the total to 7,050.
Addressing the shortage of doctors in primary and secondary healthcare facilities, Patel explained that direct appointments are offered to MD and MS graduates interested in government service. While 500 Class 2 medical officer positions were recently filled through the GPSC, many declined due to pursuing further studies or private practice.
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