LUCKNOW: A senior resident in the ophthalmology department of King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Dr Nayani Amrin was on cloud nine when she received a fellowship in ocular oncology at one of Germany’s largest universities.
However, her plans hit a roadblock because the UP medical education department is unsure about the definition of ‘higher education’ under its medical service bond.
In 2020, the state government had made 10 years of medical service mandatory for postgraduate medical students in the state health department. This was done keeping in mind the shortage of doctors in rural services. Under this, an MBBS/BDS student has to fill a bond of Rs 10 lakh, PG diploma/MDS student Rs 20 lakh, MD/MS student Rs 40 lakh and DM/MCh student Rs 1 crore, in case they opt out of the service.
The bond, however, relieves doctors for ‘higher education’ which as per senior officials of the department is not clearly defined.
“The director general of medical education (DGME) has given his go-ahead for my education but the process is stuck. Two other medical students, one from KGMU and another from RML Institute of Medical Sciences, have been relieved to join higher education in India but I am the only one not being allowed,” said Dr Amrin.
Dr Amrin voiced her ordeal on social media where she has received support from many.
Principal secretary medical education, Alok Kumar, said, “The escape from the service bond is through perusal of higher education. But the bond does not clearly define higher education. We are bound to get it followed and it is a matter of principle for medicos to follow it.”
He added that the department was in the process of moving a proposal to the government for a clear definition of higher education.
“If medicos are going to government institutions for education, it falls in the category and they are relieved. But we need to have a guideline on it as is in the case of Dr Amrin,” he added.
