The Department of Medical Education (DME) in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has withheld the certificates of recently passed out MBBS and MD students for want of fulfilling their pledge to compulsorily serve in the rural areas. To bind the students for the compulsory rural services the state governments have even got signed a bond for an amount of Rs.20 lakh from the students. According to a source in the DME, ‘if the students want to skip the rural services they need to pay the bond amount or else have to serve in the rural areas as pledged during their admission’.

Having learned this, the students of MBBS and MD have approached the High Court (HC) and had even got an order for the release of the certificates. According to the HC order the DME is directed to release the certificates of those students who have been selected for Doctor of Medicine or Master of Chirurgical (MCH). “As per the High Court order we are releasing all certificates of 2013 batch students who have got seats in super speciality courses, while the file pertaining to students of 2014 batch students is being examined”, said, Dr P. Srinivas of Telangana Director of Medical Education. He, however, found fault with students not showing an inclination towards rural service.

While that is the stand of the government, several post graduate medical students have been left in the lurch as doctors claim that the government has withheld their MBBS and MD certificates, not allowing them to join super-speciality courses or fellowships.

Junior doctors say that the High Court had given orders to release certificates, and not force post-graduate students to go for rural service, if they were selected for Doctor of Medicine or Master of Chirurgical (MCH). Officials, however, say that they are releasing certificates after the court order.

According to rural services guidelines, the MD students have to complete one year of rural service but many students have bagged seats in reputed colleges for super-speciality courses. However, junior doctors say the Directorate of Medical Education is asking them to complete rural service first and then go for super speciality. Medical students had approached the High Court, which directed the government to release certificates of those who have got super speciality seats in various colleges.

Students say that while certificates of those from the 2013 batch are being released, certificates of those belonging to 2014 batch are withheld. “The DME has both our MBBS and MD certificates. I have got admission in a college, equivalent to MCH degree, but the DME is not releasing my certificate saying there is no hurry for further education. I have approached the higher authorities and my case is still pending,” said an MD student said on condition of anonymity.