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Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab health system hit by exit of 30 specialists who signed 10-year bond
Chandigarh: In a blow to Punjab's struggling public healthcare system, 31 specialist doctors who pursued post-graduation under the govt quota abruptly exited service without completing the mandatory service period or depositing the stipulated bond amount of Rs 50 lakh. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This departure comes at a time when the state is already grappling with an acute shortage of specialist doctors in its public health institutions. These doctors had availed govt-sponsored, post-graduate medical education, which requires a 10-year service bond in exchange for subsidised admission under the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) quota. On average, 50–100 medical officers are granted such seats annually, making them contractually bound to serve the state for a decade after their PG course. In the most recent wave of exits, four doctors each resigned from Sangrur and Ludhiana, three each from Kapurthala, Mansa, and Faridkot, two each from Mohali, Tarn Taran, and Ropar, and one each from Bathinda, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, and Barnala. Not only have these doctors breached their service commitment, but none have deposited the bond amount they pledged at the time of admission. Alarmed by this violation, the Punjab health department directed civil surgeons across districts to initiate recovery proceedings. Civil surgeons have been instructed to contact these doctors immediately and serve them a 21-day notice to deposit the bond amount. If they fail, disciplinary action will be initiated, and the department has directed that a formal request be made to the Punjab Medical Council or relevant regulatory bodies to cancel their medical registration. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to departmental guidelines, in-service PCMS or PCMS (dental) doctors applying for PG or super-specialty courses must first secure a certificate from their civil surgeon, verifying service tenure, rural postings, and absence of pending inquiries. Based on this, the director of health services (DHS) issues a recommendation for eligibility, following which the department grants an eligibility certificate for PG admissions. Once selected, these candidates are required to submit an indemnity bond, promising to serve for 10 years after their PG, or pay a penalty of Rs 50 lakh in case of default. Only after submission of the bond are candidates granted a no-objection certificate (NOC) and relieved. Failing to fulfil the bond terms is treated as gross misconduct, warranting not only financial recovery but also de-registration from medical councils. The policy stipulates that only serving doctors with at least 2 years (or 1 year in some cases) of service are eligible for the NOC to pursue higher studies under the bond conditions. Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) president Dr Akhil Sarin said the govt is well within its rights to enforce the terms of the service bond. "Doctors who avail govt quota for post-graduation must honour their professional and moral obligation to serve the public health system," said Dr Sarin. "Terms are clear, and respecting the bond ensures that quality health services reach the people of Punjab. " He added such abrupt exits undermine the state's investment in medical education and directly impact healthcare delivery in underserved regions. The association has also urged the govt to take a balanced view, ensuring that while discipline is maintained, larger systemic issues like pay parity and work conditions are also addressed to improve long-term retention. "As Punjab's public health infrastructure continues to strain under the weight of vacancies and attrition, the enforcement of bond obligations may serve as both a deterrent and a signal of the govt's renewed focus on accountability and service delivery," he said. MSID:: 122391241 413 |
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Time of India
Ludh doctor booked for falsely declaring injury as grievous
Ludhiana: Police filed a case against a doctor for fraudulently declaring a person's injury as grievous and issuing a false medico legal report (MLR). The accused was identified as Jasvir Singh Kathuria of a nursing home in Samrala Chowk. The FIR suggests that a case of attempted murder was registered against four individuals from Sarabha Nagar, on April 11, 2024. Later, Palwinder Kaur, wife of one of the accused, moved an application to the police commissioner, seeking an inquiry into injuries suffered by Daljit Singh, the complainant. A five-member medical board was constituted by the then civil surgeon, Dr Jasbir Singh Aulakh, on April 16. The board comprised Dr Varun Saggar, senior medical officer (SMO), Hathur; Dr Davinder, senior medical officer (SMO), CHC Sudhar; Dr Ravi Datt, senior medical officer, Manupur; Dr Gurbinder Singh Kakkar (forensic expert), civil hospital, Khanna; and Dr Aditya Prakash (orthopaedician). The FIR says that the inquiry report of the medical board was sent to the police commissioner on May 2 last year. The board observed, "from the available record, the board of doctors is of the unanimous opinion that there is nothing to suggest that any injury on the person of Daljit Singh was either grievous or dangerous in nature. Rather, it was done fraudulently." The inquiry report by the then civil surgeon mentioned that the accused doctor did not follow guidelines of the government of Punjab and the Punjab and Haryana high court. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo Emphasising that there was no evidence of a life threatening injury, the report also raised questions on the investigating officer from Sarabha Nagar police station, ASI Umesh Kumar. As per the report, during his appearance before the inquiry panel, he failed to produce any medical record that could prove that any injury on Daljit Singh was life-threatening in nature. In the inquiry report, the then civil surgeon also recommended to the registrar, Punjab Medical Council, Mohali, to delete the name of Dr Jasvir Singh Kathuria permanently from the register of Punjab Medical Council, Mohali, as per section 7.7 of Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. Police said that legal opinion was sought from the deputy district attorney (legal), who said that a doctor issuing a fraudulent MLC can face both criminal and civil legal action. Sarabha Nagar police on Friday registered a case under sections 420 (cheating), 195 (giving or fabricating false evidence), and 197 (issuing or signing of false certificates) of the IPC against the accused. Incidentally, police sources said that the IO on whom the medical board had raised questions was assigned the same case. MSID:: 122269439 413 |
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Doctor practices while suspended, Punjab Medical Council complains to cops but revokes suspension
Representative image The Punjab Medical Council (PMC) restored the licence of a surgeon who continued to practice while under suspension. This, despite having urged the police to act against the doctor on the grounds that doing so was illegal. Yet, the National Medical Commission refuses to take up the patient's complaint against this decision of the PMC. The PMC declined to reveal if the suspended surgeon fulfilled the conditions its ethics committee had recommended for him to be allowed to resume practice - a root cause analysis of the death of two patients who he operated on, and a certificate showing that he had got himself trained in laparoscopic hysterectomy . Operation Sindoor 'Our job is to hit target, not to count body bags': Air Marshal Bharti on Op Sindoor Precautionary blackout imposed across parts of Rajasthan, Punjab 'Indian Navy was in position to strike Karachi': Vice Admiral on Operation Sindoor TOI asked PMC why its Dec 2024 order restoring the licence of Dr Praveen Devgan cited the high court order of Nov 20, 2024 when the court had not ordered restoration of licence. In response, it produced yet another council order dated April 25, 2025, which claimed that the decision to restore the licence was taken in the general body meeting on Sept 25, 2024 after receiving an application from Dr Devgan at the end of the six-month suspension period. PMC was mum on Dr Devgan continuing to practice during the period of suspension. "The case filed by Dr Devgan in July 2024 against his suspension was still pending on Sept 25. How did PMC take a decision to restore his licence before the court had decided the case?" asked the complainant, Gokul Aneja, who has alleged medical negligence in the death of his wife Sunita Aneja. She was diagnosed with multiple fibroids and underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy by Dr Parveen Devgan on Oct 1, 2018. Dr Devgan's petition in HC was "disposed of as withdrawn" on Nov 20 last year because he had moved an application seeking to withdraw the petition. The court had neither stayed his suspension nor examined its merits. In PMC's general body meeting held on July 21, 2023 "all the council members unanimously decided that Dr Parveen Devgan failed to demonstrate due skill and care towards patients". PMC's final order on Dec 21, 2023, suspended his registration for six months and debarred him from practice. The order cited the ethics committee' recommendations. These included that he be restrained from performing any laproscopic procedure in his own hospital or in any other hospital till he submitted a root cause analysis of the deaths, done by a higher institute like PGI Chandigarh doing and imparting training in laparoscopic hysterectomy, and that he get trained in laparoscopic hysterectomy from a recognised institute and submit the certificate to PMC. The committee stated that Dr Devgan should be initially restrained for a minimum of six months that could be extended further till he complied with the two conditions of root cause analysis and certificate of training. When Dr Devgan applied to Fortis Hospital, Noida for training in laparoscopic hysterectomy along with other procedures in laparoscopy, the hospital informed him that he could not be trained in laparoscopic gynae procedures "as by NMC guidelines you do not possess required qualification of post-graduation in Obs & Gynae". "It is unethical and unlawful for a general surgeon to do gynaecological training or procedures as he/she does not have the required qualification to do so," stated the hospital letter in May 2024. On receiving information that Dr Devgan was practicing despite suspension of licence, civil surgeon of Amritsar inspected the hospital on April 5, 2024, and found that he was performing operations. She informed the PMC and the police in Amritsar. The PMC urged the commissioner of police in Amritsar to take action as practising while his licence was suspended was illegal, and against the Punjab Medical Registration Act and the National Commission Act. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
