The Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors Association (TNRDA) has raised concerns over prolonged delays in implementing solutions for issues faced by postgraduate and bond service doctors.
In a press release, the association pointed to a DO (Demi Official) letter issued by Gagandeep Singh Bedi, the Principal Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department, on August 30, 2023. The letter acknowledged the grievances of aspiring postgraduate doctors and outlined steps to address them. However, TNRDA claims there has been little progress on these steps and is now calling for immediate action.
TNRDA urges the Tamil Nadu government to enforce the directives in the DO letter, including the prompt organization of a meeting between the Director of Medical Education and Research, the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, and the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. The association hopes that this meeting will facilitate discussions to address the demands raised by the Service Aspiring Post Graduate Bond Service Doctors Association and TNRDA.
Key demands outlined by the association include the immediate conduct of a qualifying examination and considering bond service doctors’ qualifications for Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) Assistant Surgeon (General) positions. Additionally, they are calling for policy reforms to replace the current “hire and fire” approach under the one-year bond system. TNRDA believes a fair and regularized recruitment process is essential for job security and professional stability.
The association further stressed that policies should respect the autonomy of non-service postgraduate doctors who wish to pursue other career paths, allowing them to resign without facing penalties or repercussions. TNRDA maintains that this flexibility is crucial for the professional independence of doctors and aligns with their right to make career choices freely.
