Medical education regulator asks States, UTs to do away with seat leaving bond in medical colleges
National Medical Commission (NMC) has urged the states and UTs to do away with the seat leaving bond policy in medical colleges to create a supportive environment for students and help address their mental health concerns. The NMC's Anti Ragging Committee recently recommended that instead of imposing a heavy seat leaving bond, states may consider debarring students who wish to leave the seat from admission in their state the next one year.
In a letter addressed to the Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education of all states and UTs, president of the Under Graduate Medical Education Board of the NMC, Dr Aruna V Vanikar said the Commission has received grievances pertaining to the «alarming levels of stress, anxiety, and depression» faced by medical students specially PG students across various institutions.
These mental health challenges are primarily due to inability of the individual to acclimatise with a different environment prevailing within their new colleges/institutions as compared to the one in which they had grown up or completed under graduate education, Dr Vanikar said.
«A noteworthy impediment hindering affected students from seeking relief is the imposition of a hefty seat leaving bond. Such exorbitant amounts not only exacerbate the financial strain on students but also act as a deterrent for seeking necessary mental health support from the family,» Dr Vanikar said in the letter on January 19.
The concept of seat leaving bond, a common practice for medical students specially PG students, was started with an aim of securing commitment, discourage abrupt resignations, address the issue of seat blocking and wastage of medical seats.
However, in the last 10 years medical seats, including PG seats,
