Punjab: The Punjab government has revised its bond policy for postgraduate (PG) medical students, increasing both the mandatory service period and the bond amount.
Key Changes in the PG Medical Bond Policy
- Bond Period:
- Raised from 2 years to 3 years for students admitted under the state quota.
- 2 years for students admitted under the all-India quota (earlier 1 year).
- Bond Amount:
- Increased from ₹20 lakh to ₹30 lakh for state quota students.
- Increased from ₹15 lakh to ₹20 lakh for all-India quota students.
Government’s Justification
Officials from the Punjab Medical Education Department stated that the move aims to address the acute shortage of doctors in the state. At present, only 1,108 posts of medical specialists are filled, leaving nearly 47% vacancies (1,962 out of 2,098 sanctioned posts) across Punjab.
Policy for MBBS and BDS Students
Earlier in June 2025, Punjab introduced a similar bond policy for MBBS and BDS students, requiring them to either serve in government health institutions or pay a bond amount. From the 2025-26 academic session, MBBS students will need to serve 2 years or pay a bond of ₹20 lakh.
Reactions from Doctors’ Bodies
The decision has sparked criticism:
Join NEET PG News 2025 - Dr. Mehtab Bal (RDA Member): Called it a “stop-gap arrangement” by the government to avoid hiring new specialists.
- Dr. Akhil Sarin (PCMS Association President): Said while the move may reduce patient costs and strengthen public healthcare, it risks turning doctors into “bonded labour.”
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