Doctors pursuing higher studies in the US to sign return bond

there is another field that is being ignored pretty much in India
that is Pharmacy. No Pharmacy in India really has qualified pharmacist
. patients are taking medicines either dispensed by 10th grade over the
counter clerk or maximum by a two year diploma holder who doesn't even
can tell all the brand generics. The doctors are laden with burden of
explaining or counseling the patient which is most of the time not
enough for the patient who is seeing more than one doc at a time. The
result is either patient is having duplicate therapy or having adverse
effects by one or other way. we need to change our Pharmacy's so
patients as well as doctors who are over burdened should get benefit
out of that.

Somebody asked: "You're a Doctor?How much do you make?"
I replied:"HOW MUCH DO I MAKE?"
I can make holding your hand seem like the most important thing in the world when you're scared..I can make your child breathe when they stop..I can help your father survive a heart attack..I can make myself get up at 4am to make sure your mother has the medicine she needs to live..and I will work straight through until 4am to keep her alive and start the day all over again!
I work all day to save the lives of strangers..I will drop everything and run a code blue for hours trying to keep you alive!!!I make my family wait for dinner until I know your family member is taken care of..I make myself skip lunch so that I can make sure that everything I did for your wife today was correct..
I work weekends and holidays and all through the night because people dont just get sick Monday to Sat. Today I might save Your Life
How Much Do I Make?
All I know is, I MAKE A DIFFERENCE...

Clearly there is a public policy issue over healthcare if a specialist occupation group ike doctors, whose education is funded by the taxpayer (excluding private ones), left India in droves. But is there any worthwhile statistics around the Indian health workforce - both existing and future supply of doctos and what proportion are likely to emigrate or will be absent long term from India? Jumping to policy decisions without a basic analysis of the problem seems to indicate pure politicking!

Indian PG medical qualifications are not recognized in the US, UK,
Canada, most European countries if not all and even Singapore. It is
the doctor's right to choose where he wishes to practice. If he/she
qualifies and gets the right to practice in a country, he will. There
cannot be a US policy exclusive for Indians nor an Indian policy
exclusive for the US. It would be biased and racist. Neither vote banks will allow that.
Does the government spend no money on engineering/management/arts/science graduates? No one can a deny any human being (FYI, that includes the doctors) the
right to better life. Does the government realize the implications of this? If not the US, every other country in the world would be willing to employ these US-qualified doctors? The government would then have to employ the Interpol to "nab" these doctors. The govt would have a good excuse to avoid confronting terrorism, border infiltration, scams, corruption, and general malpractice.

I have some questions for Mr Azad - 1.Why does a minister who requires
any treatment apart from cough and cold go abroad for "specialized
medical attention"? Will that stop with this bond signing?2.Don't the
doctors who study at govt colleges pay taxes? And how are those who
study at private colleges a burden on the govt if they emigrate?
3.Will the govt protect doctors from random assaults by people mostly
with "vested interests" after the bond signing starts? 4.Are all
doctors the medical equivalents of Ramanujan that they have to work here for negligible salaries? When ministers whose primary job is to quarrel in Parliament and beg for votes before elections get the moon? 5.What fraction of the total doctors graduated in India in 3 years is 3000 doctors? What are the rest doing? Is he admitting that those remaining in India are of lower quality than those who go to the US for further studies? Finally how does he understand why docs' organizations are opposing the Rural thing?

The doctor deserves, if not a better deal, at least a deal on par with
other professions, because he/she is trained to save lives. This rule
can only apply to those obliged to the Govt of India for sponsoring
their education. It cannot apply to those who paid for their own
education.
As for the new rural health degree, the details are not clear. But how is the life of people any different from those in the urban areas? Why this divide? There are a number of systems in place. Set right the existing system before creating new ones - stop finding new avenues to propagate corruption.

This is very poor reporting from The Hindu. Many pointed out about the J1 waiver criterion. Most people commenting here are unaware of this, understandably so, because of the complexity in the US visa rules. Hindu has failed to present its readers the full picture.
J1 visa is a pain in the neck, whether you are doctor, or an engineer or a scientist. Indian doctors can go to the US with a variety of other visas to avoid this hassle. And to be fair on all the doctors who are asked to sign a bond, all politicains must sign a bond that says they will never leave our country in search of medical help! Why double standards here?

There are two ways to keep a child at home. One way is to make him
feel that the home is the best place in the world. In that way, no
matter where the child wanders, he always comes back home. The other
way is to tie him up to the window. In which case, even though the
child stays at home, neither the child nor the parents are going to be
happy. It is a pity that the government has chosen the second way in
this matter. Another issue is that, a person trained in US, even if he
returns to India, is not going to benefit the villages in India, where
healthcare really matters. For example, how does a doctor trained to
manage patients on ventilators, work in a PHC where even blood tests
are not available or not reliable? So, even if we have competent,
world class doctors in India, unless we have the equipment to make a
difference in the lives of the patients, it's not really going to
help. Unless there is a good set up and there is a good pay, you are
not going to attract doctors to India.

A person who has an M.S. in Medicine (M.B.B.S. does not qualify) may obtain a slot to study further in an US Institution. The cost of such a study will be in the range of $40,000 to $50,00 a year. Because of the hughe expense no one who has studied in an US University can affort to go back to India. On the other hand if that person works in the US - which is what everyone has to do to pay back the student loan and earn the investment back -- then she or he can earn in the range $300,000 a year. That's why working in the US after such a higher qualification is not optional, but mandatory in practice. So essentially this is a ban on Indians going to the US for higher medical studies. Quite idiotic.

This is so short sighted. If the opportunities in India are as good as they are in the US then I am sure one would return home after completing their education. Most of them who come to the US recognize that they can have a better life here and many choose to settle. Forcing them to sign some document is not going to stop them from settling in the US. I think a more productive way would be to create lucrative opportunities for those educated in the US. Many universities in the US prefer their students do a part of their program outside of the US. Why not create a system where US educated students spend a limited amount of time after graduation in the home land to meet the requirement of the US university. There has to be mutual benefit, simply forcing them to return will never work.

The amusing thing about our education system is this. Good basic primary
education is provided by the private sector and is expensive. Good
higher education - AIIMS, IIT is subsidized by the government and free.
When a student is 18 and starts higher education, he or she has a fair
idea of their aptitude and interest and MUST pay market rates for
medicine or management or engineering. On the other hand, good primary
education is to get our children to the point where they will choose
higher education and MUST be free.

Are we Cuba? or North Korea? Government should not tell a person where to live. The guys who applaud the government decision do not understand that this is the first step to losing freedom. Government should not tell a citizen where to work, what to wear, what to eat and who to marry etc. I think India is free country and i wish it stays this way.

Every one listen up the money pumped to India from people working abroad per year is 20 billion dollars. This is the money they send to family. Imagine no body goes abroad india would become 20 billion poor and the job demand will increase and job less number will dramatically change.

Never give up freedom for anything."yadhum oore yavarum kelir".

Ask the government why people leave this country the first chance they get?
Why 40% of people do not have toilet facility?
Why so many corrupt politicians, lawmakers, police and every government department? Why caste system? and prejudice?

I read this article and I do not understand why always people target
doctors when it comes to do service, It is everybody's responsibility
to rebuild the nation like engineers,lawyers etc. are you going to
change the nation with the few people who are going abroad. once our
former president and genius Sri abdul kalam was asked same question by
the people, then he said what ever the number going out of india is
just a spoon of water out of the ocean. It is easy for the people to
give lectures like some people above. there are lakhs of professionals
coming out every year and why targetting the few people going abroad.
If a doctor genuinely wants to work in rural places, are there basic
facilities available in in the rural hospitals, just having a doctor
there without proper medicines,surgical facilities etc what they can
do, they are not Gods to do miracles without having medicines
etc.first improve the infrastructure and then start doing these
things.

Think of our personal time investment, expense& massive uncertainty before we get
into a residency. And when we finally do, the government expects us to throw it all
away and come back to India? What exactly do we come back to India for? To earn a
salary that is 40 times lower than what i can make in the US? Will the government
sign a no objection certificate to writing off all our doctors loans? You need to give
some to take some. My MBBS seat was a hard won free seat in a top medical college
in my state. I paid my due by working for a year in my govt hospital before I got my
degree. Make medical education in India a level playing field, incentivize doctors to
stay on in india by removing reservations for pg seats and increasing pay. If you
cannot do that, then stop grumbling about brain drain. Its darwinian law and the law
of economics - we will choose to go wherever life offers us better opportunities. Deal
with it.

Absolutely ridiculous proposal from officials who are utterly out of touch with
present day realities. As a physician practicing in the US, I can attest to the uphill
slope we, as foreign medical graduates (as we are known in the US), have to
surmount to get into a residency in the US. It takes at least an average of 2 years to
prepare for the USMLE's, apply for residencies, travel for interviews and enroll into a
residency. And that is assuming that you are successful in your first attempt. Many of
my college graduates have attained residency after about 2 or 3 attempts, extending
their time investment just to get into a residency to 3-4 years. I do not even need to
go into the expense involved during this interim. To maintain a visa status, I enrolled
in a 2 year masters program and gave my USMLE's and got into residency while
continuing my masters studies. Most of us come from middle class families, we have
to take out bank loans to survive this phase. (2nd part in next post)

People must understand how the politicians play with their words to
make the common people happy....Firstly,doctors aren't in scarcity,its
doctors at rural level that are scarce.And how many of you think the
present scenario is going to improve if our very beloved Mr.Minister
even brings his ideas into action.

If Mr.Minister wants to gain votes,an honest advice to him--Please
think about people and not always, about your votes.Think of
increasing the facilities at PHC(primary health care) level,then you
will do good to your people and meanwhile,gather some well-deserved
votes well....Waiting for your conscience to rise and thereby, truely
helping the nation.

every year about 40,335 (wiki)medical graduates are produced in the country .. and according to mci reports "The MCI issued 1,264 GSCs in 2010, 1,386 GSCs in 2009 and 1,002 in 2008" gsc = GOOD STANDING REPORTS ( the ones that are seeked by prospective graduates for admission in US ) so that averages to 1217.33 ..considering that some of the people do produce some fake GSCs (which is bound to happen) this figure may go up to 1500 max ..
what will the country gain by retaining these 3 % graduates ??should we call it a brain drain at all...with out properly enabling the work atmosphere, brains of the remaining 97 % are the ones that are likely to be thrown to drain ..

Mr Minister,
if US is so much of pain ,,why dont you just reflect into the reality of indian GOVERNMENT health system,,no one likes to get treated by a MBBS first question asked is are you a specialist..?? and pay scales far lower with no job security.. and to get a MD/MS degree its even tougher well you cant imagine becoz life in AC rooms is different than what most medicos share by burning their important years of life studying,and RESERVATION makes worst of senarios...
comeon farmer plough feilds and sow seeds and lives a hard life just to make money its not his choice..if he had money to feed family and live better he wont need to do that..Have you thought what 6.5 years would have its effect >>your half of youth is gone in a vestigial degree..Need to give infrastructure and security to people getting into the system thats your cure not giving placebo Rx ..and sure my vote goes off against UPA ..

The funda to stop the Doctors by NOC will aging be ineffective & flop as all other govt policIies are.Mimister should stop getting highlighted & staert working on Ground reality.
The increase in duration & obligation to work on rural area is running fine as a detter to become doctor,great Job by ministry.

The minister should break the Loby & regulate MCI to open more medical colleges, inline to the ENGG courses,so that the MBBS study become affordable to general middle class.
The need of time to promote PVT enterprenures for opening world class medical institutes & sudsidised tax structure for them through govt so that a farmers child with good brain & vision can also become doctor,Not only a son of wealthy family.
so the education nneds to be affordable,effective,

what is the Minister doing in past 4+ years to work on this issues,Just propoganda is not worth,where is the govts vision for Public health care as all developed country have & its action paln & review meachanism

Get well soon Mr.Minister!

I've read almost all of the comments here and I see that many of you here are doctors. I always respect you guys. You have worked hard, you are smart and all of us admire you. I wanted to be one, but could not. But what pains me most, is most of your comments are centered only on money. I am an Indian and I can understand your feelings - we are a poor nation and each of us wants to get richer each day. But what about your nation? Our dream of becoming a prosperous nation would never be a reality when all the bright brains decide to get out of this country. You complain, that you dont get well-paid in India, that the facilities are poor, etc. But if all of you keep going out, the situation would change from bad to worse. I believe, its high time, that this nation should be rebuilt once again and regain its ancient glory. If more people think in this way - we wont be going to other countries for survival, other countries would be coming to us!

Appalled by the number of people supporting this move. It is unconstitutional to do this. So many children avail free education from the government. Should we make them also sign a bond and put them in a labour camp if they are found to be academically weak? After all, I contributed to their education in some way and they better work for me.

Appalled by the sense of entitlement and self righteousness some of the people have here. We are a free country, a democratic republic.

Reality check: I think this Minister is going to withdraw from Govt post and join to strengthen the party image etc. He will certainly suggest including is party bigwigs, sports men, celebreties to take medical relief in India and not take Singapore or US -Oncological institutions, when many are there in india of same class. Dear Hon, do not make this profession a curse. Super speciality dr can come out only at the age of 31 or 32 and for him or her to see money will take another 5- 7 years. (Plus 2 ;18+5.5years+1 year pg preparation+3years MD+3MS) =32 years. Where as an Engineer after 18+4 22 years from any reasonable engg college gets campus placement and can afford even retiring before 32 years with 8 years work in US. As many opinioned, look into the root cause of the problem for reasons why the mbbs is not interested to take rural service. Make corporate instituions like apollo and others to mandatorily invest in rural centres and let them provide decent pay to improve health sect

it is foolish and absurd act by the health mister.so may students already wen to usa spend laks of rupees and are in debt and govt want them come backa nd work for 5000 rs permonth to 15000 rs permonth here and they are dictating what and where p[eople have to live and practice.but sonia will go to newyork for treatment.so govt want thousands of students be in debt .i hope govt will not survive til 2014 and will not come in to power till another 20 years.it is infra structure and faciltiites and seats and good pay u shoud provide to docs then automatically docs wont go .any other countries GDP IS more than 30 percent for medical and health butin india chapracies job is doctors job a normal non professional type writer will get 15000 permonth but a post graduate doc will get only 12000 in some hospoitals and if they are going to their choice place govt wants them to forcibly stay here and do slavery .before u impose stop all politicians be traeted in india high time

I am a doctor settled in the U.K. for nearly 14 years. I attended a government college
in India to obtain my MBBS. I chose to come to the U.K. for whatever reason. It is
nobody's business but mine! As for me studying in a government medical college,
that is my tax money at work. I owe the government nothing. It is an infringement on
the human rights of individuals. People should have the freedom to go and live
wherever they choose. Mr Azad is not a doctor. At least he can try not to be a fool!

Good Move, But can we get same kinda bond with Government of India that they will provide Better quality of life. Even if have a bond will they honor that bond. Lets think again do we have electricity for 24 Hrs. Water 24 hrs. Then in what context the minister is dare to ask like that.

Hello Sriram, you seem to be living in the US. Then if you think you are intelligent why don't you check and do research in knowing what is MBBS of India, MBBS OF UK, MBBCh of Australia and what is MD of the USA. All are equivalent . Why are you so much worried when people all around the world know what does MBBS mean and everyone around the world has to call doctors as Dr. only no matter where you are!!

Every year 30,000 medical students graduate in India and our most wise health minister has left 29000 doctors who are in India and is worried about those poor 1000 medical graduates per year who are spending thousands of dollars from their pockets, working hard to clear the USMLE exams, get through one of the toughest visa process and still they just hope getting into a post graduate programs of their specialty of interest by competing with the US med graduates in the long fought race. And now our government is putting a block on their career at the end just because they have the power to! Is this democracy? Why should somebody be restricted in his life. He is not taking the government's money to do all this.Nobody can take someone's right to decide his career and his life,after all we are trying to live globally.What is the use having 10 drivers in your house when you don't have a running car with you.First improve health system in India at least for the doctors who are here to work.

I am a free human being. I have not used government money to study MBBS. I studied in a service-oriented private hospital with massively self-subsidized costs of education. But I have done my due serving a needy hospital for the stipulated 2 years, might I add, without facilities, expert guidance, or regular salary. I have tried competing for a PG seat in the Open Category and failed, as I do not belong to the "backward classes" who drive to the exam centres in their luxury cars.
I am also tired of the 10 hour power cuts, the pathetic (non existent)roads which break my spine, having to buy drinking water because the government gives me water with cholera in it, the endless corruption from the friendly neighbourhood traffic cop to the passport office and the government run public health schemes, and having to risk my life every time I step out onto our deathtrap called the Indian Traffic.
Tell me, Mr Azad and co., where do you get the right to tell me where I can live or make a living?

The number of students opting for Medicine has been steadily and
alarmingly dropping over the years for very obvious reasons.The
Government is doing the best what it can do....hogwash.
And looking at the overall tenor of public view about the medical
profession,it's hardly surprising.
The Govt is basically playing to the galleries as evident by a lot of
comments above and I guess India deserves to get the type of medical
care that is more or less available to normal people,leaving aside
some teaching hospitals.
The point is who is finally going to suffer?
There always will be a section of the society who basically envies
success and Doctors don't need to explain/justify anything about
that.If the profession is ground to dust like this in front of a
cheering,frustrated,self-righteous crowd one can only guess how many
bright students will ever get into this field.And trust me,training in
India as a Doctor prepares you for the worst.So finally it will be the
society which will suffer.

I think the minister has no other useful agenda. How can you expect a
US educated and trained doctor to come and practice in India?
It is very very difficult for an Indian to get admission for studying
medicine in world renowned educational institutions like Johns Hopkins
or Harvard and it is totally farce to say that he should return to
India. How can you ask a Permanent resident of US to return to India? It
is out of question. I do not think even China has any such rule.

its pure rubbish.... why doesnt the government increase post graduation
seats if it wants the doctors to stay in india?? and for those who have
nothing to do with our branch and are just commenting for the heck of it
they should know that if 3000 have gone abroad still 30000 are waiting
in india to get pg seats,,,its simply human rights voilation///

So what Mr. Azad is really telling is - go to US to do your bachelors as well.

In the current day - when most kids go to private schools, then private medical/engg college ( even Govt ones are not so cheap), does this make sense? We are billion plus- people unless we send many folks outside, we will run out air to breathe.

In my experience - there are too many doctors in India. Most doctors except the super specialities ones are underpaid and overworked. Most need to work for 12hours to get paid what a good SW engineer gets paid by working for 8 hours.

In villages there are few doctors as they are less people there. Instead of tryign to push doctors to go the last village on horizon - provide better transport infrastructure to nearest towns. And work to make small towns better places to live by providing for water, electricity and education for kids. No sane guy wants to go towns and village because of quality of life. Its not just doctors...

There are 40000 MBBS Graduates coming out every year

That makes it 1,20,000 for 3 years

Of this 3000 has gone to USA

Now

You have 1,17,000 in India
If you can't improve our health services with this 1,17,000 what are
you going to with an another 3000

Somebody please ask the Minister why Mrs Sonia Gandhi headed to the US
for her "abdominal" surgery last year.!! She doesn't trust the Indian
doctors from hospitals like AIIMS, PGI, Fortis, Escorts etc?Queer!
There must be atleast 200000 doctors graduating every year in India
including allopathy, ayurveda, homeopathy, Unani, Siddhi etc. If 3000
doctors want to go abroad, you still have a huge number of qualified
professionals who can handle the country's health.If there is no
improvement even with this huge figure at home, then there is
something wrong with the system in which these doctors work.That
system is the culprit.Not the 3000 doctors who seek greener pastures.
An average doctor invests 10-12 yrs after 10+2 to get a PG degree in
India. Their families would have made immense sacrifices which only
medicos will understand. If some of them who have the capacity to
crack the USMLE and go to US,I see no wrong.The problem is corruption
in the system and the masses fooled easily. Period

Doctors and Engineers are influential people wherever they are.India in those days sent labourers to far off countries to earn their livlihood and to earn foreign exchange.India is like a factory producing every year thousands of engineers and doctors through out the country.India wants to attain global power.World is now a village.we must allow and encourage more number of our trained and talented and spirited people go abroad and create a good impression for the Country and influence the country to the favour of India.We must have liberal attitude in this aspect,so that presence of India can be felt in all parts of the World.We can produce any number of talented people as we are capable.Why we restrict and control the movement.We must be wise and have a vision for the future.Our able men should be sent to everywhere to make others feel the greatness and productive capacity of India. Indians should domicile in foreign countries attain prominence in all walks of life.Think globaly.

Infact a good move, we all know there are shortages of doctors in rural india. No doubt medicine is as much as profession like any other, but the point is there is shortage of doctors and as far software engineers are concerned, plenty of them available and there are people who given a job in some distant rural area are ready to go. People do should have some time for the citizens of our country, we all have knowingly or unknowingly taken a pledge in our primary schools saying "All Indians are my brothers and sisters". Hope we mean what we said.

Students going abroad is an enriching experience of human civilization. If they have to
come back, only few rich may go. This is too damaging to india. There will be only
inbreeding and hibriding will be stopped, which is too bad. Indians will miss the best of
knowledge and practice being born abroad.
This is too short sighted solution and thinking on the part of government, damaging human
kind.

a horrible Move by the GOI. If they HAVE to restrict, why ONLY
medicos?? Just because they spend 5.5yrs or more of their prime time
life to study and become doctors??
and(@ Mr Sriram) what is this idea of not calling an MBBS a Dr, just
because other professions need to do a masters/PhD to get a
Doctorate??? how many other professions spend 5.5+1 = 6.5 years just
to get a batchelor degree??? the duration of the MBBS itself is equal
to any batchelor+masters of any other profession. doctors deal with
LIFE sir, not dead tools
WHY restrict only doctors? what about engineers? do they have all the
rights to just study for 4yrs, and then go settle abroad and earn
handsome pay cheques in $$ Pounds? what wrong did a doctor do?? just
that he chose a profession where he had to sacrifice the prime time of
his life and a happy future with family and friends, reading all night
long and serving patients all day, does that mean he is not eligible
to earn a decent living and good future for his family

I would like to recollect that prior to 1960, doctors were banned from going abroad ( without government approval ), and this gave Indians a sufficient doctor : population strength. Nowadays, however, MCI refuses to approve any non-paying ( govt. ) college MBBS seats, thereby actively reducing the doctor : population ratio.

Any minister seriously wanting to address the shortage of doctors must first upgrade ( at a minimal cost ) every district hospital infrastructure into a teaching one.

This policy is not needed. Make the country a meritocracy, free of corruption, daily hassels of dealing with stupid govt. officials, no one will leave India.

Let the government decide at the time of admission itself. Either you choose a bond and study for subsidised rate, or opt not to sign bond and study at market rate.This is more rational than imposing the restriction after completion of degree

Think this is not the correct way u make doctors come back from us or
not to settle down there.
many doctors do u have a goal of settling there. and the best way the
government could do the same is by improving the standards and pay for
doctors over here.
and this compulsion is emberrasing

docotrs leave India for only one reason: the opportunities available in India are not commensurate with the expectations and aspirations of the young graduates. Even a cursory examination of the thoroughly corrupt, exploitative and disorganized health care sector in India should be enough to understand why young physicians want to go somewhere where they can breathe the air of freedom. Unless steps are taken to address this, the situation will not change. Case in point, as the opportunities for IT professionals and Engineeers/MBAs have improved, they do not emigrate in the same large numbers as they did 10 years ago.This was nto the result of a government initiative, but by market forces driven by private enterprise. This measure appears to make a political point about serving the rural poor. Yet it is unlikely to persuade or force a single physician to return. It's real purpose is to create another opportunity for seeking bribes. I pray that wiser counsel prevails.

All doctors who are grinding their teeths and demanding that engineers and other professionals should serve government,I understand your agony but guys, just look around.All of us engineers are ready to serve the country. You know how much engineers the government are recruiting annually by all the exams combined?It is less than 5000. And how many engineers are created annually?Its more than 5 lakh. So I wonder if you could suggest an alternative for the other engineers.

I will come back. if you will remove the seat reservation quota from the colleges , jobs and every place of life. why you wanna control our lifes if you can't provide a better in india?

this to sriraam ....do you even knw what doctors have to study to
get mbbs degree ?? if you knew you wouldnt have said what you wrote here
..we have to study 18hrs a day ....and if govt
wants to do something tell this minister to stop paid seats in
medical profession ...

Wow, it is a great step, I have got M B B S degree with subsidized
fees by our Govt(peoples money). That’s why it is our duty to serve
our people .It is true ,when we travelling or staying there in U S A
, we maintaining each and every rules and regulation provided by U S A
Govt, but when our country provide a new rules(it is good or bad
,which is not sure in the beginning of any movement) then we shout
against that. Thanks GOD , . this time U S A is insisting for N O C.
and those doctor who want to become servant to U S A , has nothing to
do now.
If we have problem with our democracy, politics, politician, or we
want socialism , or mixed type or other system , dear ,no body cant
gift us ,we have to gain by movement and for this ,we have to
sacrifice your luxury.If you have full faith on your country ,then
you have right to gain support from your country, when u trouble in
abroad like 1. shoot dead 2.low salary than American 3. racism or any
any type of 5. Norway event ,etc.

Be it Medicos, IITs or any others should not be restricted to go to a place and learn and work.
Before enforcing such rules, the Government should think on the following lines:
- Provide equal opportunities that are not limited by reservations, politics, nepotism, corruption.
- People will stay back in one's own country when the talent is recognised and there is right environment to further one's own academic interests and research.
In the absence of good facilities, infrastructure and equal opportunities I can not understand why we should limit our own talent. If it is not recognised and used here it can atleast be used for the benefit of human beings. First of all, we should get rid of all types of reservations based on Caste, gendre. Only merit and excellency in academics should decide the jobs and next opportunites.
Reservations, quota systems in every aspect including the promotions in organizations, including for top positions liuke IAS is eating into the efficiency of India.

To quote, 'From this year onwards, the United States is insisting on a government NOC from every student enrolling with an American institute. “No other country is asking for this NOC,” the Minister said. “If they don't fulfil the bond obligation, we can write to the US to deny the student permission to practise.”'
=====
I dont understand this 'twist' as if Indian Govt is initiating this. Also is this for only 'medical students'? If not, we will have a bigger protest in Telugu land than the Telangana movement :D

well well!! i see a lots of comments encouraging the move..I simply cant understand why doctors are made mockery for everything!!! see all other field people who lead healthy lives and see the doctors working 80 hours a week. the ppl commenting here shd know what a Residency(PG in USA) drains out of a doctor and how much he works in that period!! these engineering brains work 45 hours a week, earn 0.2 million dollars a year right after they finish a MS!! but doctors first struggle 6 years then to enter US takes another one year(provided u get visa), spend next 3 to 4 years in residency. and u expect them to return.in last 3 yrs, out of 120000 doctors india produced, 3000 have nt returned. what has the remaining 117000 able to achieve in healthcare in india? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. This rule makes it clear that any guy/girl now doing 12th...one advice "

And why do billion people in India forget the hardship we COMMON
Category / GENERAL category brilliant people have to Study and go
through 1st entrance or MBBS; 2nd entrance for MD and 3rd Entrance for
DM.
We were not born fortunate with silver spoon or reservation
earmarking.
W e have to STUDY for 10-18 hours a day for 10-16 years. This
is not exaggeration.
The entrance exams are VERY VERY torturing. IT is famous but
these entrances are more tough to get into good medical college in big
cities.
But in the end- Pvt paid seats flood the market and GENIUS
billion population of India doesnt ever Question the doctor where did
he get his degree from. Whatwere his percentage...
Pvt/govt/reservation/open/...how much did he really study..what was
his class rank.
Probably government has resolved to take intelligence out of
the picture!

Indian people- Ask your doctor about his degree/seat/percentage.
Dont just get fooled by lavish hospital!!!

It is the most stupid idea to demand bond for medical students going to the USA for further studies. Does the Minister know what it costs for doing just MBBS in India? It is mind boggling! When a student completes MBBS and is ready to start his/her own practice even without doing MD or Specialized Course, he/she would be past 30 years in age. When would he/she pay for the cost of his/her studies and then lead a decent life of his/her own? Instead of contriving this kind of idiotic rules, let the authorities concentrate on reducing the cost of medical education, improve its quality and standard and make rural health service mandatory for atleast 3 years. In the same vein, other professionals like engineers, lawyers, science, commerce or arts graduates should be made to serve either the Defence or rural areas in community oriented jobs for 3 years. Capitation fees should be abolished; wherever the students are forced to pay it should be reimbursed to them by the government without pain.

My Appraisal for Geetha and Dr RKRAO REBBAPRAGADA for intellectual
comments.

people of India have a false perception of India shining.
There is a lot of difference in medical healthcarein developed country
and our country. Government should actually sponsor fellowships for
intelligent doctors working with them. as someone said- offer more
carrots. Not sticks. This is a free and democratic country.

About Brain drain...
Dont you consider engineers as real brains?
why envy only doctors?
Besides- in Healthcare- Doctors are only puppets. we can not change
society unless politicians make sound decisions and moves. Whether
carrot or stick- stopping these genius doctors here in India Wont do
any good if the system remains the same.
Doctors are not to be blamed for any problem in the healthcare
system. Politicians and ignorance of the people is to be blamed.

Most of these docs are very talented, hard working and highly ambitious. They (most but not
all) want to deliver the best and have very high threshold for professional satisfaction. Indian
resources are very limited. Politics in Indian premier institutes like AIIMS, is intollerable to
them. Even they try ,they cannot deliver. I was talking to a heart transplant doc in USA. He
wNted to come to India for settling down. None of the corporate hospitals in India could offer
a job for him. We just cant use someone like him. Docs like him are very few but form a good
fraction of that 1000 number.Can India be benefitted from these doctors? The best use will
be to get them voluntarily use their skills in workshops to train young doctors working in
India. Most of these doctors,as far as I know, donate generously In Charities and also in their
medical college fund. Someone rightly said, if you cannot make use of 20000 docs in a year,
bringing 1000 home will not solve a great purpose.

I have to repeat many times- common INdian man bears NO great cost
through Taxation. Its a hoax.

And why NO ONE concentrates on PRIVATE MEDICAL GRADUATES?
Rural bond is in place since 8-9 years but ONLY to INtelligent merit
class government college candidates. WHy not to Private medical
college graduates?
Isnt this about scarcity of 7 lakh doctors in rural area?
Or is it this totalitarianism directed to promote pvt medical edu
business?

You should not force us to give up civil liberty, freedom of
prosperity.we study MD MS and even at the level of DM or MCH we get
paid 25 thousand in Maharashtra. Are you Insane not to see this
injustice?
Private institutes...reservation...corruption...We are intelligent
doctors...we study. We dont want hassles in our life.
Give us justice. Treat us like Humans and we will serve our
nation wholeheartedly.
You improve your rotten system.Dont force us to mend according to
your rotten system.

Mr health minister

looking at your statement one could easily understand why you are most
unqualified person surrounded by equally fool BA pass IAS officers who
hardly understand what this thing is all about. just going through the
circular without any insight you will end up formulating rules like
this and harming already frustrated docs. as already one reader has
explained NOC is required only for J1 visa that is for exchange
visitor program, i.e. govt is sending someone for special training and
obviously he/she would return. Rules should be uniform for every
citizen why only docs? whether you have done school/college/any other
training on govt or subsidized money you owe people of this country
something... next thing is why govt makes cry when US reduces no of
visas to be issued.. then you think you are getting forex... wake- up
azad sahab somebody should give him some sense...

Dear Readers,
Please allow me to bring something to your attention.
How does an MBBS from India get permission to work as a physician in USA?
Many of us know that many IITians and IIMsonians finish their courses and get a job/placement in the US based companies and start their work once they reach to USA. BUT IT IS NOT THE CASE IN MEDICAL FIELD. Once a student finishes his/her MBBS from India from any college whether its AIIMS, MAULANA AZAD or any other medical college and he/she wants to work as a physician in USA , that person has to undergo a Medical training program (Known as Residency Training) for at least 3 yrs/4 yrs in USA First. Once he/she has finished medical residency program successfully ONLY and ONLY then he/she is eligible to practice in USA.
Getting into medical residency program is very difficult, as all programs are funded by US government only. Each candidate has to pass a series of examinations to get into residency program. These exams are known as USMLE (United States Medical Licensure Examination).

Dear Mr.home minister
Every human being tries to better his livelihood in whatever way possible to them.
We produce lots of MBBS grads every year. But the scope for their future is being curtailed
due to you short sighted policies lIke compulsory rural service etc etc.
Provide good livelihood and infrastructure, I'm sure many service minded people will work in
rural areas.
I wonder why students who pass out of accredited medical colleges have to be differentiated
on the basis of reservations, roster system etc if they all have received the same level of
education. Provide opportunities here and people will automatically stope leaving their
families and friends to go to USA.
Reservation are necessary upto under grad level.
After that all grads become equal. Scrap PG reservations.
A meager 3% of all MBBS grads go to USA. I wonder what difference they are gonna make
to the health care system of India??

Very soon govt will come with a proposal to delete all the fundamental rights from our constitution..Perhaps this foolish govt expects the super specialists after completing their studies at US to work in a third grade public health center. What a way to impress citizens that they can take decisions to prove that there is no policy paralysis at the govt

Now why Indian medical grads go to USA: Very few seats in desired speciality, Almost
negligible seats in superspeciality, pathetic stipend, Extremely low salary for docs finishing
their speciality. People should not compare a post graduate Induan doctor to a graduate
engineer, because a post grad doctor has at least 5 years more experience in his field
compared to a grad engineer or 3 year more than an MBA. Now with no. Of years, age and
responsibility increases. For the time and money invested in this field, Indian doctors gets
very poor wage in initial 5 years. All these reasons are good enough to push some one who
thinks he is talented enough to make it to USA. Now for the question, is US training better
than India? I would say, in most of the cases, yes. Can be practice this in India, most
probably not in a resource limited country. So will these doctors will get enough job
satisfaction, probably not. You have to understand, most of these 1000 docs are extremely
talented.. Cont..

Mythbusters-
(1) Sriram, In US there is ONLY 4 years of Medical school (after 4
years of Science school- a prerequisite for all science rlated
professionals.) to get MD degree. there is NO concept of MBBS. On the
other hand in India we get MBBS after 5.5 year. + 3 years for MD
degree.
And Mr Sriram, When do you want us to be called Doctor? 5.5 years of
rigorous training is enough. We are smart people. I would say even 4.5
to 5 years is enough!

(2) Many SMART people have said Medical education costs a lot to
government. NO. Medical EDUCATION costs almost NOTHING to government.
Each college works with a hospital and its governments duty to provide
hospitals to people. So Hospital + additional college...no extra
salary to b paid to doctor as teachers. Its great cheap business.
Why else do you Genius people think that there are more than 130
Private institutes showering Medical degrees in India?

Why only doctors? Why not engineers and MBA? Was it wrong to study medicine in
this country? Someone said Dr earns 10k to 25k doing nothing.. did u see drs do
nothing? And how is it possible to run a family like that in this growing but
degrading economy.. one thing is clear, the ministry as well as those who think we
live a good life have to understand the fact that all these destroy the confidence of
students.. come to pg entrance and know how hard we fight.. its just software
engineers or iit Students can't understand the competitiion and problem. From now
on, doing medicine is the worst thing in this country. Many who entered this field on
interest have already lost it..

This is a typical quick fix solution of a UPA minister to correct the worsening health care system in the country without appreciating the contributing factors .First, the minister has no idea of number of doctors (MBBS) graduating annually in India. If the govt can enact a law that all those SC,ST,OBC, candidates who enter the MBBS on reservation basis should work in their native place , that can give relief to some extent. There should be a ban on going abroad by politician of all sorts for medical treatment and avail the services provided by hospitals like AIIMS etc, so as to have a feel of the health service available for the common man. The doctors going abroad for higher studies abroad can be reduced if the no of PG seats is increased many folds. The funds for doing so will be available if a sincere attempt is made to bring the black money held abroad by politicians . The rural areas in this country lacks basic facilities so much so no retired president/ PM/ MP prefer to stay

@Sriram
I cant do anything else but laugh at ur comment!i hope and pray that you are not a doctor as you surely don know what it takes to be one. all the engineering and bachelor's degree you are talking about are of maximum 4 years and post grad 2 years ... but we graduate after 5.5-6 years and hell we have a right to be called doctors. most of the non-medicos already graduate and even post graduat by the time we get our graduation degree,and what next??? they sit in AC offices work in MNCs for 5-6 days a week and earn approx 40,000 per month ??? JUST AFTER GRADUATION ESP ENGINEERING ! and we work as medical officers with no regards to public holidays,sundays,work hours(not all in AC hospitals) and get paid between 25-35000 per month...and still u want us to get 3year MD /MS and then to be called doctors??? haha!and if govt is not sponsoring our education in any way then why this bond??? arent we entitled to our life?? Govt drove us out by so many quotas and less seats

A good move ahead by Ministry of Health and family welfare.But at the same time government should employ effective measures to provide better job opportunities to the talented doctors in their own country. Mandating doctors graduating from Rural Health Care course to work in rural areas is also a better move but the government should first ensure better facilities and emoluments to these talented ones because every talented Turk will feel better to work only in such environment in which his/her talent will be evaluated appropriately. At the same time I think that we as a citizen must help the government to imply the above mentioned scheme. It may be that this is only a political gimmick or something as stated by some writers above but we as citizens should not engage us in a war of engineers or doctors as some people are of the opinion that why this policy is not applicable to the engineers. We should appraise and help the government that it is doing something to stop brain drain

We should not allow this notification to be implemented. This is unfair
and needs to be corrected. It appears that the government did not
consider all options before issuing this notification. Please do not
play with the students careers. They have a right to choose what they
want. You can not change the rules of the game when ever you want and as
they way you want just because you are a minister.

It is stupid to issue such notification. How can you limit the freedom
of a person in choosing what he wants? I think one should approach the
court in settling the matter.

Now new thing is that you have sign a bond of undisclosed sum of money. Govt is still
deciding on this. This all to stop immigration to USA by US government. Will Indians in
rural India will really get benefited? Probably not. Will these doctors be in economic
loss..may be. Most of these doctors are highly trained, even fields that does not exist in
India. If they come back they get extremely good salary almost competitive to US salaries in
competative corporate market. What can be better than a US board certified doctor to lure
health tourist?Now I am not saying US trained docs are better than Indian docs. Now, US
plays all kinds of tricks to get best advantage of J1 visa holders. There is a rule that you
have to come back to your country at least for 2 years before you renter in USA for job. This
bond will nothing be compared to that. At least, it cant be 1 crore, a average us doctor's
annual salary. Now why Indian medical grads go to USA? Few important reasons: will cont..

What a notification. How government can decide what am I supposed to do?
if it is because government is offering a subsidized education, then it
should charge the students for the actual fee. It should not limit the
freedom of the students in choosing what they want. Why are you not
applying this to an IITian or a graduate from IIM? This is a biased law
which should be repealed at the erliest.

Oh god please make this government understand that we have already
chosen our career and it is not liking changing cabinet ministers that
you can change your career path whenever you want.

It is baffling to see this news. What about the students who planned
about their careers in advance. What about the people who are planning
to join PG there as their spouse is already working USA. What about
families who are planning their son / daughter to send USA and
arranged for a marriage with a person working there. What about the
painstaking hard work put forward by the students?
Does government has power to change its policies overnight? At least 1
to 2 years time should have been given in settling the issue and then
implement the notification. If government is determined to implement
this notification, it means a lot of turmoil for many families which
can not be corrected by any other means. It is time for the government
to wake up and listen to the real problems of the students. Be
pragmatic do not bring policies swiftly and take them away in no time.
At lest we expect government to think and act.

Hi Sriram,
In India, we follow medical education based on UK practice. Doctors in
UK have Dr title with a degree in MBBS. In India ,doctors r by
profession & title both which is reflecting in certificates ,
prescriptions and at every stage.Even the U.S. MD course is equivalent
to MBBS of ours.

Just to make few things clear and simpler. Doctors from India or other countries go on J1
Visa, H1B Visa and on Green card. J1visa is very restrictive in nature and reflects US
governments policy to keep the alien doctor in certain restrictions and use them only if
needed. Now, half and increasingly more, alien doctors are going on J1 visa. Best of the
universities accept only J1 and nothing else. Now, it has been a rule that, if you need a j1
visa,that is a scholar/trainee exchange visa, you have to get a noc from your government
that they have no objection for you going USA and govt. also needs to give a statement of
need that there is need for doctors in India in these specialities. This is all required by USA
Aand not by Indian Govt to keep immigration under control. Before getting this statement of
need one has to give letter of assurance that he will come to home country after finishing
his/her higher studies that can be maximum of 7 years. Will cont..

To get into this profession we have to study like mad. To get out of
it i.e. to get PG seat is far more difficult. The govt. is not
increasing the seats and most of the private college seats are being
sold.Even after completing MBBS we are left with nothing. How many of
you will go to M.B.B.S. doctor if you have MD and MCH Dr available.
If someone find a way to get higher studies in US they are introducing
a new bond. We are already under bond of one year by the state govt.
to serve for one year. Govt is trying to increase the duration by one
more year. It ll do nothing but create a negative mindset for the
upcoming generation to come into this field. Being a Dr i tell you
through what kind of stressful days we have to go to finish this
longest UG course and now they want us to take a break of one year.
Let us complete our PG and the apply bond for us, so that the people
will get a good quality care too. The M.B.B.S posted to villages do
nothing but refer them due to lack of facility.

@ Neel: Observation of this country has " a spectacularly
ignorant and illiberal society" is spot on. Even more dangerous are
the group "educated" ignorant and illiberal forcing their myopic
agenda on the basis of unscientific "ancient traditions" on the gullible masses.

It is a short-sighted n destructive action from GOI. They cannot force
people to be virtuous. If govt want to retain professionals (doctors, IT,
MBAs, IITs, entrepreneurs) then they should concentrate more on creating
world class infrastructure, eliminate unwanted 'red tape'ism, corruption,
recommendations, provide quality education to children from all strata of
life n create a atmosphere where talent n ideas which are beneficial for
people are encouraged.I know I am asking for something impossible from Indian Politicians, in the likes of Sibals, Azads, PCs, Mamtas.
This action would lead to more corruption and bribery in the education system because people will start paying money to get the NOC from the govt. officials n we Indians are exceptional in finding loopholes to encourage n commit corruption.
My fellow readers, supporting this action, if your honest intention is for goodwill of India, then in my humble opinion this is not the way to do it because this will be temporary.

I dont know how this is gonna help. let us look deep. suppose this
proposal went on without a hitch and doctors who wish to go to US(if
there r still left any) came back, "WOULD THEY SERVE IN THE COUNTRY
SIDE, MR. AZAD" or the ones who stopped going to US after this fiasco, will they serve in the country side where 68.14% of india lives. NO is the answer. U might come up with another intelligent idea. To make rural service mandatory for say 5 or 10 0r lifetime. But again IS IT GONNA HELP? again the answer is no. because lack of medical personnel is not the reason for dismal performance of our health sector. what would a post graduate in surgery or orthopaedics do in a rural health centre with not even the basic equipment like iv cannula or even cotton or paracet sometimes(this is not an exaggeration, i worked in one of those, that too near a metropolis, trust me). if u want to know the truth there are many who want to settle as doctors in PHCs but govt wont notify the posts. or they dont have a PHC at all. i just want to tell that there are many willing to do service in rural areas after graduation. You want evidence? in my state(AP) not even one phc vacancy will be left if notified. but govt doesnt want those who will come under the regular employee category. they want students to work. because can be made to work more than the stipulated work hours and they can be paid less than what they would normally deserve and say its stipend so u cant demand anything except take what we give. Sorry for all this. but it just hurts. why dont the govt make something similar for engineers or for lawyers( free legal aid), why only doctors?

for all these years goverment is bent on destorying the medical education in the country. look at the poor quality mushrooming private institutes that opened in last 10 yeras. the nation is yet see result of this disaster. If this is not enough this government has created all sorts of hurdles for the students who want to pursue medical profession. Thing like Bachlor in Rural medicine; compulsory rural service and now this bond.
No wonder this contry will always remain short of good doctors as the bright students at first place will not pot for MBBS. yes this country will see many Munna Bhais!!!!

Not only this , the govt should have a first right of employment of the doctors studied in givt.collegec as the nation funds their studies and these doctors without any hesitation dump the nation for their self interests . If these do not agree , let them go for private educaation and have freedom .

I think it is really a good move ,how do we achieve prosperity without
Having enough professionals, compared to the strength of our population , the government has to adopt similar strategy to all professionals so that they can serve their country first .all the professionals going abroad has to think, this is our home, what we can do for our country? nobody else Can do as much as we do.

This step taken by the Govt of India was the need of the hour to stop brain drain. Finally India has taken a stern step to prevent doctors from going abroad in pretext of higher studies and not coming back here thereby settling there and crippling the medical sector here in India which hasonly one doctor for every 1,700 people and the counry that had spent crores of rupees to produce a single MBBS doctor.

why doctors only?
brain drain is mainly scientists, it prof and engineers . they also
study with public money. why not them too?

We work so hard to get our degrees. Spend a huge amount to go to USA and persue higher studies. It is just impossible to come back to India and repay the loans. High time the Indian government should talk sense. They should make sure every doctor is well payed as they are done in US only then will we Indian doctors will agree to this rule.

Mr. Union Health Minister has clearly lost it. Lets do the Basic math
now shall we? Havard Medical school website says the tuition and
other expenses amount to 75k $ per year so for 3 years it would
amount to 225k $.The maximum amount of loan any bank in India gives
is around 20 lakh.So person would have a debt of 200k $ by the time
he returns to India.If you work in India and earn in
rupees(considering that rupee is on all time high!!)he would take his
entire lifetime to clear the debt.Same applies to MBA,MS,PHD and all
other higher education.So whats the solution,invest in Higher
education in India rather burdening the students.People who jump and
draw conclusions without the basic knowledge of higher education
please grow up.

Dear Health minister,

I am from a rural place, working hard for to give a wonderful life to my parents. My mom suffers from health issues, and i prefer taking her to an educated, well practiced and EXPERIENCED doctor, but not to a doctor who just have a degree in USA, with no practice experience anywhere!

And i have a question for you,
if you have your wife suffering with some problem, where will you take her for treatment?

to an experienced doctor or to a fresh US doctor who doesn't want to treat their parents wholeheartedly?
Give them a break, If they spend out of their pockets and study a course of their interest, and want to clear their expenses cost, what is so wrong in it?

If you have so much conscious about saving the health sector remain in india, develop the service more ...

What is worrying is not the Minister's gimmickry but the kind of
comments generated in this forum -- reflective of a spectacularly
ignorant and illiberal society. If this is the case on a sample space of
'The Hindu' readers, one can only shiver at the prospect of wondering
what the general populace thinks. Or, what else can pass for policy in
this country.

What is the need for such restrictions..are we aware of the details of restrictions, law of USA in this regard ...someone should inform the correct details...the restrictions are in every field..how the Government what to apply...what is the joint agreement between India and USA and what are the exceptions..whether it applies to only government sponsored doctors.....

There are 40000 MBBS Graduates coming out every year. That makes it 1,20,000 for 3 years. Of this 3000 has gone to USA. Now You have 1,17,000 in India.
If you can't improve our health services with this 1,17,000 what are you going to with an another 3000 !!!!!!

This is outrageous. There are rare MD seats in Indian medical
colleges, students do not have ample options and when they go to US
to study by spending huge amount of money they are being treated as culprits. For every 10 doctors that pass MBBS there is 1 MD seat for popular streams, what do you expect others to do. If they were going to US on government sponsorship then it makes sense to ask them to sign a bond but barring that this is free country and people have right to decide what to do.
As far as cost of teaching MBBS is concerned, 30 lakhs/annum on single student raises question of efficiency and management of institutes like AIIMS. Where is this money going, not certainly to professors or for students.

I think serving the nation should come from within for doctors,engineers and everyone as they should be grateful to the people who finianced their courses.On the other hand goverment should try to make these field more lucrative to retain the talents in the country.

I am totally agree with Mr. Ranjit. Apart from that I have some questions in my mind, why any bond like this is required? Why doctors don't want to return to serve there country? Government must understand that only by making law nothing is going to happen. Doctors will find other way to go to abroad. Government must provide good environment and security, so that not only doctors others also feel comfort to do their job.

Why are those in power behaving in such an arbitrary & abusive way? Of late, we have had Mr.Sibal's ham-handed RTE, Didi's fascism in WB, Montek decreeing tea to be our national drink & now Mr. Azad trying to do his best impression of a local don. Why are they punishing those with aspirations? This decision needs to be challenged in a court of law. Are they getting their talking points from Mao's Little Red Book? This is akin to the forced sterilization methods adopted by Mr. Sanjay Gandhi back in the day, in the name of a "noble" goal of population control. When IT Services & BPO jobs come to India (notably from the US), we do not complain. However, if a few doctors decide to go abroad (for whatever reason), we want to treat them as if they are criminals & force them to return as if they are wanted by the law. Why are we buying into this class-warfare & insane jealousy of those on the verge of a better life, that those in power seem to be propagating? We need to grow up as a society.

We take pride in the fact that our country believes in the right to
education. Move abroad and you'll see even bright minds struggling to
gain a college degree because they can't arrange the finance for
tuition fees.

Institutes like Harvard, Yale are world-class but incredibly
expensive. On the other hand we have World class institutes in our
country, AIIMS, IIT, IIM which are government sponsored/aided. It
allows the average Joe to realize their dreams. This is India, you
study, you get admission, simple. Shouldn't we be proud of that? Now,
it seems the government wants to tie us down to repay their favour?
Not only is this unconstitutional & difficult to implement, it's a
blatant votebank tactic as only doctors are targeted. Let us move on
with our lives & not worry about contracts & courts. We've already
invested a lot of blood, sweat & time to get this far. We deserve some
clarity right now. Tell us all this before we join medicine, not after
we've passed out!!

I completed my MBBS 2 years ago. Mr Azad,do you know why so many
people go abroad? It's because you do not provide opportunities for us
here.With thepyramidal educational system in India,there are 10 MBBS
seats for every 3 post graduate seats. Which essentially means, there
is a huge pool of people who have slaved for at least 5 and a half
years to get their degree. But wait, you are a doctor would be the
reply. Well Mr Azad, I d like you to step into any clinic in the
peripheries of Tamil Nadu and do you know what the first question
people ask is:"Is thew doctor MBBS or MD"Given the state of the health
market where the people want to be seen by postgraduates, it makes
sense to get one. But oh wait, we can't because there aren't enough
seats. So what do we do. The usual: Drink, smoke, get depressed. Get
divorced, sponge off their parents and if u r a girl just get married.
The rest of us? live with the pity and scorn of society for just being
MBBS. I am going to the US.

Extending same thing to IIT/CSIR labs/Govt. Funded Universities will not work. In US, if you get a degree from any college there, you will find some decent paying job, job market is big, which can even accommodate the foreigners. In India, how many of the PhD's from IIT (especially in science) get good job, may be in Pharmacy yes, in other fields????. First Indian government should ensure job and conducive environment for everyone, then no need to impose this rule, problem will subside by itself.

I think this is a good move good... Doctors are using govt. money to
study in USA and settle down there. Basically USA is getting doctors
free of cost.. like a ready made food... Doctors should reconsider
before settleing down there. if they want to settle they should Pay
Indian Govt 100 times what Govt. has spent on them...That is the fail
deal..

@Ranjit, just curious how much did you pay for your MBBS degree? Unless you
studied from a completely private medical college, you MBS degree is partly funded
by taxpayers. So technically it is not money from your own pocket. Plus you need to
have some social responsibility. If all doctors spend their own money and move away
from India, who will be there to take care of locals? The next step should be for the
government to stop IITians to leave India. Even in the US, if you have receive any kind
of federal scholarships you have to serve the government for a period of time before
you can join a private firm.

This is ridiculous law. Why does not the minister make the similar law
for the policy makers first i.e. every MP and every MLA should spend
three years in rural area and obtain NOC from the village Panchayat
to be able to eligible to stand for election every time ? It is
government's responsibility to build good roads, provide clean water,
good sanitation to all citizens (besides providing "subsidized
education") including in rural area. You do that first Mr. Minister
and then ask doctors and engineers to perform theirs (who do it
anyway).

Australia is 2.3 times of indian area. But its population is less than 2 percent of Indian population. Infact India adds to itself more than the population of Australia each year. Hence its requirement of fuel,food, fertilizers, doctors, of course rationale and sanity is more. A blanket rule to curb doctors from practicisng in foreign countries has no sanctity. To educate a doctor, the government instititions spend lakhs of rupees and subsidise it. Hence government can legislate laws to curb exodus of medicos who studied in Govt. Instititions and have availed the indirect subsidy. Whereas those who study medicine is private institutions by spending huge money earned by their parents and or through loan have a basic right to work abroad and earn the money spent for their study.

Indians are very good at pulling down the successful people ahead of the
general population. This seems to a similar case with people for whom
going abroad has become a case of sour grapes are lauding this draconian
move. If the govt. wants to recover the expenditure incurred on
educating the ones who emigrate, what about the common man's need to
have accountability for the tax he pays. The amount of tax payer money
lost in shady deals and scams far exceeds the funds "lost" in educating
a doctor.

Maybe if all the settled doctors in USA and other countries unite and sign a joint declaration that no Dollars will be repatriated to their country, this will bring the country to its knees.Already india is beging for FDI and foreign repatriation of 50 bn $ is waht is keeping it going. India needs doctors and other professionals abroad as much as it needs them in India. If really the MBBS is done to 6.5 years no one is going to study it. Doctors in India as such dont make much unless they are into their early 40s where they get settled in their profession. I have friends who are in their early 30s and still studying their Masters even whenits ust 5.5 years.

Another restrictive policy of the congress and leftist led government which will stiffle the medical profession. One wonders why Indian doctors excel in the USA, UK and other free democracies where credit is given to ability to show yourself. The Minister's restrictive policies, are policies making India once again join the group of countries at the bottom of the economic scale as recent data has shown. With elections round the corner this government should voted out.

The idea by the GOI has got its both the positive and the negative effects. They
need to be carefully analyzed before a decision is taken.

Who is Ghulam Nabi Azad to speak against anyone's own right. Its his will to study
or practise anywhere in the world. Does any one ask government to pay for his
expenditure on his education abroad. Or does anyone did ask governament to pay
his fee in india too.
What facilities does the government offer in India for a doctor, not even respect.
Improve the standards of education at all levels.
If they want to implement any rules, let it be generalised for all feilds.
If at all they want to implement any rules, let them do it for a kindergarden
students and at their level, where there will be no obligations and atleast the
government can claim successfully that they did something in education.
Its unfortunate that politicians speak like uneducated and they are.

If they are making it a law, they must ensure that no politician can
go abroad for treatment, no politician can get treatment from a US
trained doctor. They ask for reservation for SC/ST/OBC but how often do they get treated by the reserved category doctors. Instead of encouraging doctors to work in India in a positive way these jealous politicians are forcing doctors. They should find out the reason why indian docs prefer USA more than India & then they should try to fulfill those deficits in Indian system. If Brain-drain is an issue, it should be implemented to all fields especially all the IIT/IIM people too.

Hi Sriram...In India, we follow medical education based on UK
practice. Doctors in UK have Dr title with a degree in MBBS. Even in
India, interns use title Dr. as they cure the patient and even in the
interns certificates & prescriptions ,Dr. title is used . your curiosity
will end by knowing that your U.S MD course syllabus is same as MBBS in
India.We are doctors by profession and title both ,,not only by title. i
hope you understood.

The story is not complete in this article. NOC by the US government is not requuested for all those who enter medical training in the US. If a person enters the US to train on a J1- exchange visitor visa, which is given to people from other countries which lack such training facilities. A j1 visa is also given to a research scholar not only doctors, but only doctors are required to get a NOC from the ministry of health. As per the requirement of this visa, aperson on J1 has to return to their home country for atleast 2 years after completion of their studies. There are ways to avoid the 2 year rule though, by serving in rural areas in the US. When issuing a NOC the government can take a bond from the doctor, which would bind him to get back. This NOC and coming back will only apply to people in this situation.

Choice of education and decision to work should be left to the one who practices it. The Government of India doesn't support each and every student studying medicine or any other stream. They do not have the rights to ask doctors to stay back. If someone is interested in staying back and serving the country then it is left for them to decide and if someone wishes to practice else where then it is up to them. It is not an easy task to get a residency program in the U.S and the very first thing that they get a license there is a difficult task. And the government has no right to force the citizens to do something for the nation or anything else for that matter. It is an absolute breach of human rights and democracy and no such law changes should be entertained. It is not Nazis rule that you force your citizens, be it doctors or anyone to impose something. This is nothing less than bond labor , and for all that we studied, we work as bond labors.

Increase the salaries in rural areas first. I know many MBBS doctors doing jobs in
private hospitals for 15000-20000/ month. Why wouldn't they do if you give
competitive salaries. You have money to do scams,but not implementing these.
Really a shame.

Bala Aiyer's answer to - Why an MBBS calls themselves as Doctors like PhD - is TOTALLY WRONG. Quoting him: "Doctor is
originally given as a title for the healing profession - even for an LMP. Since they had to do an intensive study of the subject, later
other subjects like Philosophy was also givenPhD and called a Doctor. Well, for a person studying Engineering, how come you
call them Doctor of Philosophy, It should be Doctorate of Engineering." Exactly the opposite is the historical fact!

In medieval Europe, philosophers were the most respected professionals and surgery was practiced as a side business by
butchers and barbers. As the medical profession tried to get more respectable, they found that Doctor (of Philosophy) was the
highest degree earned in any profession (such as liberal arts, law, theology, later engineering, etc.) and adopted that moniker to
erstwhile butchers and barbers, even for bachelors.
Check out true historical facts, before inventing your own! (Wikipedia)

Do the people of rural india want unqualified quacks to take care of
their health. What did the Govt.do to eradicate quackery? why cant
this minister replicate the General Practitioner based system
prevailing in the UK (proven to be the best)? Why don't the Indian
system of medicine is promoted by research? why can't the minister
take a look at TN and replicate emergency maternal and neonatal care in rural areas? unfortunately these questions are not raised by the people themselves.This emboldens these politicians to keep cheating them in these matters.But indians have already connecting with other countries and they will start asking hard questions in the near future.Mr.Minister be prepared atleast by then.Don't target some soft targets instead.

US should work on reducing illegal immigration from Mexico and latin america. The americas have been colonised by europeans, who have exterminated the locals, or subjugated them for ever. So is the case with Australasia. Indians have a right to settle whereever they want to and this right can't be restricted. Does the same rule apply to India undertaking manned mission to the moon or sending expeditions to Antarctica? What sort of government have we in New Delhi? Are we a sovereign independent nation or a banana republic that has mortgaged the future of our citizens to USA? This step of asking doctors to get back to India in the absence of organized medical facilities is an outrage.

@ Rama Seshadri: "So this minister says "Now if a student does not come back
from the US, he won't be allowed to practice there," If he does not come back from
the US, how CAN he practice in India? Can one be at two places at the same time?
I've never heard of that! Besides - this is pure politics. What ideas does the
minister have, to retain doctors in India?"
What this means is that if an Indian graduate MBBS goes to the US for higher
studies and decides to practice there then they will no longer be allowed to do so,
they will have to return to India and they can only practice here.
I would say this is a smart move by the Americans if we look at it from their point of view, their graduate doctors are suffering because of the competition from qualified Indian doctors who settle there. Would we like it if people from some other country came and took our jobs, which we have the capability to do aswell.

doctors become doctors by using poor and illiterate people in india as guinea pigs and then go abroad to earn more money. The govt of india should be concentrating on prevention of disease so that we dont need so many doctors and so we do not need so many medical insurance company. Govt should be concentrating on organic food (our ancestors used to call FOOD ) and stop and prevent genetically modified food and keep vandana shiva like people incharge of medical industry and agriculture industry. Govt should concentrate on avoiding pollution and not over work our indian citizens specially in hazardous condition. These steps if taken can avoid lots of people getting sick and hence so many doctors are not needed.

Now let me clear some facts here.

1. Mr Sriram,regarding your comment about"MBBS Doctors",Medical schooling in India is much better/thorough than in the US and pumps out much better physicians.The graduates of medical school in the US are no where near ready as their medical school system is targeted towards to preparing a person for a residency[specialization]unlike ours.
2.There are other genuine reasons[despite money] why MBBS graduates prefer to move abroad.The discrepancy between MBBS graduates and the seats for Specialties is baffling.When you add the "RESERVATION QUOTAS"to the equation, it becomes extremely hard for a MBBS graduate to get into a specialty.repaying the nation makes sense but should be across the board.3.Specialization in US is not expensive.You get a salary once you match and no one ends in a debt.4.In the US, you work on either a J1 visa or a H1 visa. J1 Visa is preconditioned where the sponsoring country gives a NOC, which mandates your return for 2yr.

Let's get this clarified - The USA is the one insisting on a No Objection Certificate, but our government is interpreting this as an excuse to impose a bond? By what stretch of imagination is this sensible or fair? If the government has not invested in a student's education, and is not expected to invest in any of it abroad, it has no right to enforce any kind of bond. It should just supply the student with the NOC and enable that person's progress.
Here is how this proposed system can and will be beaten by those who really want to: 1. Study medicine abroad - even the undergraduate level. 2. Go to another country for higher studies where no NOC is required, after MBBS in India, and then transfer to the USA. Credits can be transferred and if a student is not coming from India, this NOC won't be required. AND...3. Sue the government for discrimination - there is no way any court in India will rule this fair if other courses have no such blackmail points. Let's not kid ourselves.

Such laws are long overdue. They shouldn't depend on US regulations. At least those who study in publicly funded institutes including IITs and IIMs should be required to fill such bonds. In fact, they should be asked to serve at least 5 years first in India immediately after completion of course and only then allowed to go abroad. Shouldn't tax payers get some return?

Another political gimmick! If I pay money out of my own pocket and get a MBBS degree, then go to USA (again paying out of my own pocket), who is Ghulam Nabi Azad to tell me what to do. If you have some common sense, please make sure that there is no unemployment. leave the doctors alone.

all you geniuses govt funds only people with reservations and partly
those who study in govt colleges. there are tons of people who pay
5lakhs tuition for a free seat in pvt colleges. also people talking
about other degrees please kindly increase the number of jobs without
making people work like donkeys and giving them one rupee above minimum
wage. a ph.d is a doctor every where, also if they didn't teach you in
whatever special school you have been to. also if you didn't know none
of the organizations in our country fund for research.

Those of us not fortunate to have a reservation did not study with Govt.
money. Our parents spent money on us, took loans, borrowed money, sold
property etc. The only thing the Govt. did was ask those who worked hard
to stand at the back of the line and let the reserved (most of whom were
driven in to counselling by their own drivers in fancy cars)stand in
front of the line. Most of us are in huge debt and the Govt. saying that
they spent money on us is incorrect.

we are not in a communist country, you cant forcifully decide future for doctors, this unconstitutional, if you want doctors to stay at home or come back provide the opportunities here an make them come back ny themselves.if you cant provide any favourable conditions at home then keep quiet. if you really care about your people do some thing about it but just dont behave like dictators, we are living in a democratic country for god sake. it doesnt make any differance between india and china if you do this, atleast chineese govt doesnt place any bans on students going for higher studies and chineese provides benifits and hs numerous traties with USA for their students. if you dont help your students how can you have your say in their future.

A good but not a well thought move. India has scarcity of Engineers and
other professionals too. A move to bring all of them back should be
initiated but the regulation should be a little relaxed. It costs about
$100000 to obtain a bachelors degree in engineering and if the person is
forced to return right after completion of studies, he may not be able
to pay even the interests on his loan. Also, government should consider
the fact that Indian job market remuneration is no where close to any
western country. I think this is being a little strict.

Doctors spend their own cash for studies in Inidia and abroad these days..and its quite a lot of cash too...we take loans to complete our education..the Indian government has not done anything for us..not a single penny was spend on us..then how on earth can they implement such a rule???..this is not a dictatorship , its a dmocracy!!! and this is violation of the basic human right of following our dreams and doing what we want to do with our lives!!!..this government should go down..it has not done any good to anyone in this nation!!!ghulam nabi..have you even thought about half the things mentioned above before you start acting the false hero and send the nation into more debt????

Such restrictions only serve to increase the victims' distaste for India and her skewered politicians. Restrictions such as these make me want to get out of India, for today, they say this. Who knows? Tomorrow, they might take away my right to practice outside my hometown, or something equally ridiculous.

Dear politician, use your brain a little, and find out the root cause of the brain drain. Take useful steps towards making practice in India more attractive. Like supporting high quality teaching and research. Take away bureaucracy and corruption in the government health setup. Make appointments and promotions more transparent. Stop politicians from interfering with the practice of medicine. Come up with a better system of healthcare.

Dear health minister, please make every citizen use toilets and give safe drinking water. These will do more good than any such publicity seeking gimmicks, which are a criminal waste of time. Yours and mine.

Before asking them to come home, did you ever think what kind of quality education your providing for the students in india, In Andhra pradesh an OC male student needs to get a rank of around 600 state wide to get a seat in MBBS, so the people who can afford to pay donations will go to college here and students who cant afford to pay money go abroad like USA and china, and the same applies for PG entrance too, how many seats does the govt providing for the Jr doctors for their PG's. dont try to punish the students for the mistake made by the govt. develop the quality of education and opportunities at home, if you do nobody leaves.

Excellent decision. The government must build new tertiary level government hospitals in rural areas. This will allow medical pratitioners to provide state of art healthcare in rural areas.

I thought India was democracy where Citizens have right to choose.
It is ironical that Health Ministers last name is 'Azad'(Free).

If govt incurring losses they may demand compensation from students who studied at govt expense. Noway they can enforce Bonded Labor.

Such Draconian laws will make even more students/talent to leave the Country. Create favorable environment for Doctors/Engineers, professionals. Every govt research institute is marred by corruption, cast based reservation, bureaucracy.

No wonder India is far behind in R&D. With the Ministers like Azad we will be behind for a good time to come.

Mr. Minister, have you wondered if this is constitutional or not? Why don't you liberalize medicine in India and see how doctors shall flock back to our shores?

I think this is because the "US" wants it this way - not because the Indian government want it.

Anyway, many doctors from UK returned (and are returning) to India as there are better opportunities for them currently in India rather than in UK. More so as the UK government quickly changed the goal posts recently and it is difficult for any non EU doctor to get any decent medical training.

ALSO not many are taking the UK exams or training as they know they wouldn't get a good job in UK currently. - a situation unlikely to change over next 10 years or so.

I think Indian government needs to concentrate on the "carrots" for these doctors (engineers, IT professionals etc) rather than the "sticks" to curtail the brain drain.

This just shows how far the UPA govt is degraded, playing tricks like this to retain Doctors only back fire on you. so What about the IIT's studenta gradute from IIT which uses most of govt funding and then left to foreign companies before they even graduate and for that you all ppl feel proud that out students got a job at this company in this scountry for this much salary.

Another failed policy in the making. So what if the person is not allowed to practice in the USA? There are a hundred other countries that will welcome a doctor qualified from the USA. And as pointed out by many, nobody will be in a position to return immediately to India after accumulating large student loans for education in dollars. A few years of employment overseas is a must for these people. The real beneficiaries of this short sighted policy would be other countries ranging from Canada to the Carribean.

This is to answer Sriram's side comment - Why an MBBS calls themselves as Doctors like PhD. Doctor is originally given as a title for the healing profession - even for an LMP. Since they had to do an intensive study of the subject, later other subjects like Philosophy was also givenPhD and called a Doctor. Well, for a person studying Engineering, how come you call them Doctor of Philosophy, It should be Doctorate of Engineering.

This action is good by the minister. Because how many doctors and
engineers take the benefit of government and doing the courses and
serving there in US. This is not at all good actually this is cheating.
Not only to government but also to the people of India. Strict action
should follow to regulate this brain flow.

The actual form/implementation of this kind of restriction may be debatable, but I applaud the start of a move to stem brain drain. I also ask that this be extended to many other professions, and that the government consider another option--requiring every citizen to discharge some sort of compulsory civil and humanitarian duty for 1 or 2 years before they can be allowed to emigrate. It would stop the devlauation of citizenship I see all around today.
The objections based on debt are selfish. What of your debt to India? If medical education in India were that expensive, perhaps those objectors would value it as much as they value education in the US? If you cannot afford it, why go?
BTW, I came abroad for postgraduate study and I am fully conscious of the enormous debt I owe to India for my education and selfhood. Everything I have gained from the US has been returned in the form of teaching and community service. Why should I not pay India back? Nothing should be free.

Dear Sriram. Have you been to a village? Just a query. The first line of heathcare giver is a quack aka the steroid maama.And you are telling me that a 30 (or is it 35)plus 'better' doctor with a family would work in a village wholeheartedly. Trust me an mbbs graduate can do a good job in the villages. Why trust me? cause im 'just an mbbs' doing the rural bond and have absolutely no qualms about it. But i would not want to do the bond after my higher studies (unless I've been sponsored or reserved) be practical!!!

This is a slap in the face of Indians. How can Indian government accept such conditions on Indian citizens? We are living in a global village and people move about to which ever place offers them better facilities. There are no government jobs for doctors. The Post graduate positions are not on par with what is available abroad. Corporate hospitals give low salaries, with no job security. Villages leaders and politicians are corrupt. Medicine is a life long investment, and doctors toil, for long hours, to qualify, and train to become doctors.
Indian government is playing second fiddle to the US government to deny opportunities of settlement to its citizens. GOI should work towards establishing national health institutes of the calibre of AIIMS in each and every district of India. Health is low down the priority in our country and corporate hospitals are filling in the vacuum left vacant by our corrupt governments.

Globalization makes no sense,when people are restricted from moving.

The Hindu should investigate this decision taken by the government. First off, the
doctors trained in India who leave to USA are not a uniform entity. They fall in to
different categories: those who enter residency (doctor training) in USA on a J-1
Visa, those who enter on an H1B visa and those who already have a US green card.
The US is asking for an NOC only for those who are on J1 Visa. H1Bs and Green
card holders do NOT need an NOC from Indian government to enter training. That
means, some are treated differently than others at the outset itself. If you look
closely, those who are on J1 do not have a laid out support system in the US
meaning no spouse that can sponsor a green card for them and no family member,
etc. So, they end up at the mercy of the US & Indian governments and end up
requiring this NOC. So, if the India government is making them write a bond, it
mean it is taking advantage of the hapless. How do you plan to make the H1Bs and
green card holders pay back to India?

Do same for Engineers from IIT .We do not get benefit single penny
from these people who go in USA and just serve as employee for life
time in country .We should encourage them to come back and do
business to uplift more people from poverty !
80% of IIT people do not live India so what is benefit of expeding
lacks of rupees on their education through government funds ?
Proof for my statement is to check scientist from ISRO not 10% of
people are from IIT .

I know many fresh medical graduates and even some postgraduate diploma
holders without work and suffering! Many who have some kind of work are
just "duty doctors" (mostly night duty) with a pay of 10000 rupees to
25000 rupees per month, and they just handle admission and discharge.

Will the government guarantee work consistent with the qualifications,
skills and needs of the doctors?

This is not the right way to deal the issue of scarcity of doctors.
Government is just suppressing the freedom of Indian citizens. I really feel this as 'Unconstitutional'.
Government should not function like a corporate company. It should provide good opportunities to doctors rather than forcing them to stay in India. How can India develop with out improving our resources?
The productivity of any individual will be very high when he is working with his heart.

Educational cost for becoming doctor is very high. Common public bears this load thru taxation. We cannot compare medical education with any other field. It is unique & distinct. Welcome step by govt but at the same time, govt need to give more powerful commitments on UHC & rural doctors schemes.

Rationally, this should be extended to all degrees from government institutions, that are subsidised. perhaps that will start a debate to remove government subsidies to universities and instead change to a system of government loans so the loan is forgiven if a graduate works within the country for 5 years.

The Health Minister has taken the right initiative for improvement of national health & health manpower. If it is not done then ultimate bebefit of trained manpower will go to USA. If you are Indian, back to serve your nation. During my training I was also lured in USA in 1996 but I have rejected that offer and opted to serve my India.

This is the most stupid thing I heard in a long time, unless the
press report is missing something. Studying medicine in US is very
expensive. If a doctor from India is arranging for this expense (by
taking loans, selling property, borrowing from friends/parents, etc.)
then he/she should then be able to practice in US to recover. However,
if the person goes to study abroad on Government scholarship (full or
part) then the govt. should impose the bond on them. A blanket bond on
everyone would be the dumbest thing to do, and it would never work.
The same principle can be applied to IIT/IIM students where we spend
govt. money. If someone gets govt. scholarship he has to serve the
nation for a few years before moving on. That way both parties get
something out of it.

One thing government can do is get out of the education business and
allow unlimited private medical colleges.

Good initiative by government.

Simply restricting is not the good solution. Today Doctors and tomorrow some other professionals??
Our policy makers should identify the root casue.
Why the professionals are moving to other countries? What is lacking in India? The policy makers should think in this way and have to come up with better solutions.

Hi Sriram,
Do not criticise Indian doctors. Also, do not compare them with USA doctors. In India, we follow medical education based on UK practice. Doctors in UK have Dr title with a degree in MBBS. And healthcare in UK is the best in the world and healthcare in USA, I believe is worst than in India, eventhough they have made many advances in the medical field.

Doing a Masters or Doctorate in the US is costly. If, after a student completes his degree in the US, has to come back, he will be in huge debt. One of the main reasons why students work in the USA after completing their degree is to earn good money for a comfortable living and also to REPAY THEIR STUDENT LOAN. With this bond, the Government is only forcing the middle class into astronomical debts.

A good move from the government but at the same time government should provide the necessary institutions and infrastructure to them to excel in the field especailly in the Research...

What a draconian course of action to impose bonds on doctors only! To ask to repay educational costs may be fair, but return?? If it is to protect 'brain drain' why does it not apply to other professionals (IT, Engineers, Finance/Banking staff, MBAs), in fact everyone?? The doctors study for the longest number of years of ANY profession, put in very long hours (often to the detriment of their family lives), without exception work for the benefit of mankind, and they WORK to earn their money - whether in India or abroad. THIS UNFAIR POLICY SMACKS OF VINDICTIVENESS & ENVY. It should be resisted. Before any restrictive employment practices like this is enforced, which probably infringes human rights, law of the land must be enforced first!! All BLACK MONEY stashed by tax-avoiders (in many cases by plundering the nation and the citizens) must be brought back, and all law-breakers (thieves?) put behind bars. These people have stolen national wealth, not performed any service to the nation!

A good move The Govt. spends crores of rupees on educating the medicos but they do not want to serve the nation If they had resources let them go to west even at the starting level of the Medical education or if they do not have let them study some other subject and remain india It is high treason to leave India after getting a medical degree

Its a good move by the GOI to get a bond signed by doctors. Now can we get the engineers back to India too?

So this minister says "Now if a student does not come back from the US, he won't be allowed to practice there," If he does not come back from the US, how CAN he practice in India? Can one be at two places at the same time? I've never heard of that! Besides - this is pure politics. What ideas does the minister have, to retain doctors in India?

I am very very happy for this and may be we should do this for those who come to USA for PhD after IIT stint. Any one studying from government money should compulsorily serve in India for 5 years. Am also sad, the government did not do suo moto, but because USA wanted to, to protect American doctors - not Indian patients. On a related but side note, I am very curious, why should people with MBBS call themselves Dr. Its Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery right. In every other field one has to complete, Bachelors, Master's and / or PhD to address themselves as Dr. In USA also the students go through 4 year college after high school and then enroll in MD program to earn their Doctorate in Medicine. It's only in India I see that people with Just an MBBS degree, which is not even displayed (as is required by law in USA) call themselves Dr. May be if government rules on this too, we may get better doctors!

Mr. Minister, Have you succeeded first in the compulsory rural services of the medicos in India? Can you prohibit the ministers and your high commands from taking medical treatment abroad? Will you be able to implement the new proposal effectively? I think it is just a gimmick to fool the people.