Stating that concept of seat leaving bond, a common practice for medical students specially PG students, is leaving such individuals in anxiety and stress, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has urged the States and UTs to do away with such norms in medical colleges so as to help create a supportive environment for the students.
Instead of imposing a heavy seat leaving bond, states may consider debarring students who wish to leave the seat from admission in their state the next one year, the NMC’s Anti Ragging Committee recently said in a letter to the Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education of all states and UTs.
President of the Under Graduate Medical Education Board of the NMC, Dr Aruna V Vanikar said in the letter that the Commission has received grievances pertaining to the “alarming levels of stress, anxiety, and depression” faced by medical students specially PG students across various institutions. These mental health challenges are primarily due to inability of the individual to acclimatise with a different environment prevailing within their new colleges/institutions as compared to the one in which they had grown up or completed undergraduate education, Dr Vanikar said.
“A noteworthy impediment hindering affected students from seeking relief is the imposition of a hefty seat leaving bond. Such exorbitant amounts not only exacerbate the financial strain on students but also act as a deterrent for seeking necessary mental health support from the family,” Dr Vanikar said in the letter on January 19.