SHILLONG: The State Cabinet on Thursday approved the appointment of eight non-bonded MBBS doctors as medical and health officers. This was informed by Health and Family Welfare Minister Roshan Warjri.
“We need doctors and we are fortunate to have the non-bonded ones,” Warjri said.
With regard to the payment of bond money by some doctors who have declined government service, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said, “There is a policy of the government that the bonded students after completion of course can refund the bond money if they do not wish to join government service.”
On a lighter note, the CM said, “I also paid bond money after resigning, and allow the bonded doctors to pay the bond money and do something else like me.”
Replying to queries as to whether there are any doctors who have not paid the bond money, the CM said that the government is following up the case.
“The whole demand and supply gap as far as medical professionals are concerned, is the biggest challenge the country faces. We have a number of medical institutions and establishments which have not been utilised to provide medical education. We have taken this up with the Centre,” he added. Sangma indicated that assets, infrastructure and facilities created for NEIGHRIMS should have enabled it to accommodate at least 100 students instead of the current induction capacity of 50 students per year. “The idea is to take advantage of the existing medical infrastructure and top up with few more and whatever is required to upgrade them into medical colleges,” the CM added.
