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    Doctors educated at the expense of the poor cannot shy away from serving them: Madras High Court

    Posted 01 May 2024

    2 min read

    • High Court was hearing a writ petitions filed by doctors to waive service bond period.
      • Service bond is an agreement between medical students and government which requires doctors to work in a specific area or public healthcare facilities for a specified period.

     

    • Need of  Service bonds 
      • Uneven distribution of healthcare workforce: It can ensure social justice and health equity in underserved areas.
      • Reciprocity: These are a way to ensure that taxpayers' money is utilized effectively by requiring the healthcare professionals to serve in the public healthcare system.

     

    • Ethical and other issues with compulsory service bond
      • Infringement of fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(g) [Right to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business].
      • Quality of care: Forced obligations could impact motivation, job satisfaction, and overall performance, potentially compromising the quality of care.
      • Brain drain: Stringent bonds may discourage talented individuals from pursuing careers in healthcare, exacerbating the existing shortage of healthcare professionals.
      • Discrimination and inequality: It may disproportionately affect healthcare professionals from underprivileged backgrounds or those who cannot afford to pay the penalty for non-compliance.

     

    Way Forward

    • Voluntary participation: Voluntary opt-in system could be implemented where healthcare professionals willingly choose to serve in underserved areas in exchange for incentives such as education subsidies.
    • Adequate compensation and incentives: Service bonds can be accompanied by attractive compensation packages, including competitive salaries, housing allowances.
    • Targeted recruitment and training: Initiatives could be taken to recruit and train healthcare professionals from underserved areas.
    • Flexible models: Such as shorter service periods, rotational assignments, combination of urban and rural postings, etc.
    • Tags :
    • Service Bonds
    • Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics

    Articles Sources

    https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/doctors-who-get-educated-at-the-expense-of-the-poo
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