Shillong, Aug 19: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has stated that the proposal to increase the bond amount for sponsored MBBS students is under consideration by the state government.
“Whether or not we can increase the bond further is something which is still under consideration,” Lyngdoh told reporters on Tuesday.
Her statement came following the recent demand of the Health Youth Council (HYC) for taking strict action against sponsored MBBS students who have not reported back to the government after completing their courses.
The minister expressed hope that the government would be able to review the matter productively and make a decision that would benefit the state and its people.
The HYC also suggested increasing the bond amount to Rs 1 crore with effect from the academic session 2026-27.
The HYC had quoted an RTI findings which revealed that between 2015-2016 and 2019-2020, the state government sponsored 359 students to pursue MBBS courses, but 96 students have not reported back to the government to fulfill the conditions of the bond-cum-agreement.
Lyngdoh emphasized that the debate on the bond and the insistence on doctors signing bonds as per law is not new and has been ongoing for many years.
The minister highlighted that the government had faced difficulties in regards to doctors who failed to report back to the state after completing their courses.
However, with the establishment of the Meghalaya Medical Registration Council, the situation has improved, and students are now required to register with the state board after completing their MBBS course.
So things are better. We are grateful to the chief minister and the cabinet for having agreed and consented the cabinet note which constituted this board.
Lyngdoh mentioned that the bond amount had been increased over the years.
“Yes, at one point students had to give around Rs 34-35 then it was increase to Rs 40 to Rs 46 (lakh) and the numbers keep increasing but we have seen that returnees are not really deterred by signing of a bond. It is not the monetary obligation that should guide our Meghalayan students,” she stated.
However, she emphasized that the focus should be on encouraging students to return home and serve their own people rather than just the monetary obligation.
The minister expressed hope that the government would be able to review the matter productively and make a decision that would benefit the state and its people.
Lyngdoh also stated: “We also need to look at what kind of doctors do you want to get back to the state. Are you happy with just the MBBS doctors who are general practioners or will you allow even a bonded student to avail a higher study if they qualified on the all India quota for specialization.”
“So a lot of our students are still engaged in all of these various programmes across the country having qualified for the NEET and so many courses that are there. Our doctors are out there acquiring knowledge and more degrees but we would like to see them come back,” she added.
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