IMA demands rollback of 2-year service bond, penalty of Rs 20 lakh; calls it 'financial, mental distress'

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has appealed to the Punjab government to immediately roll back the ‘bond policy and sureties’ for admission to MBBS courses in the 2025-26 academic session. The policy had created serious financial and emotional stress for students and their families, especially those from low-income backgrounds.

“It is a move that threatens to dismantle the aspirations of thousands of aspiring doctors who have worked tirelessly to secure a seat in government medical colleges,” the official IMA statement said.

Punjab MBBS bond policy demands mandatory service of up to two years or a penalty of Rs 20 lakhs, and also requires a property as a guarantee, which is not acceptable and should be withdrawn immediately.

IMA Punjab stands in solidarity with students and parents and has urged the government to reconsider this policy.

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Key demands of IMA Punjab

The demands of the IMA Punjab from the state government are as follows.

Financial Burden: The combined penalty of Rs 20 lakh and an increase in fee charges has put a huge financial burden on students, which contradicts the purpose of all government medical colleges to offer affordable and accessible medical education.

Sureties of two children: A person from a middle or low-income family to provide suruties of Rs 20 lakh each for just one child, and even for people who have two children, are aspiring to make them doctors. It will not be possible to arrange 4 sureties for 2 children.

Discourages talent: Strict rules, such as mandatory properties, may push top-ranking students away from choosing medical colleges in Punjab. As a result, this may lead students to choose colleges in other states with better policies, leading to a loss of skilled future doctors.

Ineffective way to solve doctor shortage: The government justifies the policy to address the shortage of doctors in rural areas, which fails to address the root cause. Instead, they should focus on improving the work environment and increasing salaries to keep doctors in public service.

Regardless, students and their families feel let down by the government, which introduced this policy despite prior promises to increase stipends and resolve other concerns raised by the medical community.

“We demand an immediate and unconditional rollback of the bond and surety requirements. The government should engage in constructive dialogue with medical professionals and students to find a sustainable and mutually agreeable solution to strengthen Punjab's healthcare system,” the official IMA statement said.