SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government has announced a comprehensive review of its bond policy to address the ongoing shortage of doctors in the state.
This decision was disclosed by Meghalaya health minister Ampareen Lyngdoh after a meeting with a delegation from the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), who had called for greater transparency in the allocation of medical seats under the state quota.
Meghalaya health minister Ampareen Lyngdoh stressed on the need to understand why the increase in medical seats for students from Meghalaya has not mitigated the shortage of doctors in the state.
“We are going to review the bond policy and other related concerns to ensure that doctors who benefited from state-sponsored medical education return to serve in Meghalaya,” she stated.
The minister revealed that the Meghalaya health department is collaborating closely with the law department to reassess the bond policy, aiming to ensure that both current students and future doctors fulfill their obligation to serve the local population.
Despite the increase in medical seats, with Meghalaya receiving 94 seats in 2023, the state continues to face a significant shortfall in healthcare professionals.
Lyngdoh expressed hope that the number of seats will continue to rise proportionately in the coming years.
Looking ahead to the upcoming NEET counseling, the minister expressed optimism that Meghalaya will be better positioned to manage and allocate medical seats effectively once the court grants approval to the Government of India to commence the process.
When questioned about the allocation process, Lyngdoh highlighted the importance of adhering to the reservation policy to ensure fair distribution of seats without disadvantaging eligible beneficiaries.
“We are committed to ensuring that the allocation of medical seats complies with the reservation policy, without violating the rights of the intended beneficiaries,” she affirmed.
Addressing specific concerns, Lyngdoh described the complexity of dealing with applicants who may have tribal surnames but lack permanent residency or a scheduled tribe certificate in Meghalaya.