The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged the Gujarat Government to abolish the mandatory bond system for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, citing significant changes in the state’s medical education landscape and growing challenges faced by students.
Addressing the issue, Dr Anilkumar J. Nayak, National President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), stated that the Gujarat State Branch of the IMA recently submitted a representation to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel seeking the withdrawal of the bond requirement, which currently mandates bonds of ₹20 lakh for undergraduate students and ₹40 lakh for postgraduate students.
According to Dr Nayak, the bond system was introduced decades ago when Gujarat had only five medical colleges and fewer than 1,000 medical admissions annually. However, the state now has more than 42 medical colleges and over 7,000 medical seats, resulting in a substantial increase in the number of graduating doctors.
He pointed out that the existing healthcare infrastructure is no longer able to accommodate all students seeking to fulfil their compulsory rural service obligations. Recently, around 3,500 students applied for postings under the bond system, but only 1,400 could be provided jobs in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs).
“The government is already recruiting Medical Officers for PHCs through the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC), offering regular full-time employment opportunities. Under these circumstances, the bond system has lost its relevance,” Dr Nayak said.
He further noted that many MBBS graduates are forced to wait six months or longer for bond-related postings, leaving them effectively unemployed for extended periods after completing their studies.
The IMA has also cited Maharashtra’s recent decision to abolish its medical bond system, arguing that Gujarat should adopt a similar approach. According to the association, the Maharashtra Government recognised that it could not provide employment opportunities to all bond candidates, making the continuation of the policy impractical.
Dr Nayak highlighted the financial burden imposed by the bond requirements, particularly on students from middle-class and lower-middle-class families. He explained that securing a ₹20 lakh bond often requires proof of assets worth nearly ₹50 lakh, while a ₹40 lakh bond may require property or assets valued at around ₹1 crore.
“The bond system creates significant hardship for many deserving students. The financial and administrative requirements are not feasible for everyone and have become increasingly difficult to justify in the current scenario,” he said.
The IMA has requested the Gujarat Government to review the policy and consider abolishing the bond system in the interest of medical students and the evolving healthcare workforce requirements of the state.