10 bonded doctors report for duty in the state: DHS

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 27, 2020

Over 10 bonded doctors have reported for duty after a recent ultimatum served by the state government.

“Around 10 bonded doctors have responded (to the government’s request),” Director of Health Services (MI), Dr Aman War told reporters on Thursday.

Dr War said this would to a great extent help the government in effectively tackling the COVID-19 situation in the state.

The state government had earlier threatened to take strict action against more than 50 bonded doctors, if they fail to report to the state by the end of this month.

Asked, Dr War said most of these doctors are from the Scheduled Tribe category and they have already joined duty.

He however lamented that none from the open category have responded to the call. “Moreover, most of them are not to be found in the residential addresses given during the signing of the bond,” he said.

Dr War said in view of this, the health department has decided to request the police department to trace such doctors so that notices can be served to them.

According to him, bonded doctors who failed to report to the state before August 31, will have to repay the bond which ranges from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh.

“We will wait till August 31 and if they fail we will have no other option but to implement the conditions of the bond,” he said.

To a question, Dr War informed two such doctors have paid the bond amounting to Rs 25 lakh and Rs 30 lakh respectively.