86 doctors await jobs after PG in MP:MBBS degrees withheld; PMO intervenes over delayed rural postings

Hundreds of postgraduate doctors in Madhya Pradesh say they have been left without jobs for nearly six months after completing their MS and MD courses. They allege that despite fulfilling all academic requirements, they have neither received rural postings under the mandatory service bond nor their original educational certificates, making it impossible to work in Madhya Pradesh or elsewhere. Doctors claim their Class 10, Class 12 and MBBS certificates, along with other original documents, have been retained by the government as part of the bond process. Without a No Objection Certificate (NOC), they say they cannot apply for jobs in other states either. The issue has surfaced in a state where a large number of doctor posts in government hospitals remain vacant. While the Medical Education Department says the matter falls under the Health Department, health officials have not given a clear response. Doctors say certificates withheld, no postings after PG Major Dr. Yash Shrivastava, who completed MS in General Surgery in December 2025, said he served in the Army for five years after MBBS before returning to Bhopal for postgraduate studies. “At the time of admission, we signed a rural service bond. Under the rules, the government is supposed to post us at rural health centres after completion of the course. Seven months have passed, but no posting has been given,” he said. He added that all original educational certificates have been retained, preventing him from taking up employment. “An NOC from the Directorate is mandatory. Without it, I cannot work in Madhya Pradesh or any other state,” he said. Loan repayments, personal lives affected Dr. Shrivastava said he had taken an education loan for his postgraduate studies and is now struggling to pay the EMIs. “Employers ask for original certificates, which we do not have. Many doctors are facing the same problem. Some have postponed marriages, while students from other states are unable to return home for work,” he said. He added that doctors have also submitted a High Court order to the government stating that if a bond posting is not provided within three months, the bond should be treated as automatically terminated. Doctors from other states also affected Dr. Amit Kumar, who completed PG in Orthopaedics and belongs to Haryana, said he cannot return to his home state for work because an NOC from Madhya Pradesh authorities is required. Personal loans becoming difficult to repay Dr. Sharad Singor, who completed MD in Pulmonary Medicine, said many students had to take personal loans because education loans were difficult to obtain. “PG fees are high. We are ready to serve in villages as required under the bond, but the government has not given us postings. Seven months have passed, and we have neither received our degree nor a job,” he said. Medical Education Department shifts responsibility Medical Education Director Dr. Aruna Kumar said earlier medical colleges used to send the list of eligible doctors to his office, which was then forwarded to the Health Directorate for rural postings. He said colleges now send the list directly to the Health Directorate, and the Medical Education Department no longer has a role in the process. He declined to give an on-camera statement. Health Department gives no clear response Health Commissioner Dhanraju S. did not respond to phone calls seeking comment. Additional Secretary Dharanendra Kumar Jain said he had joined the department only eight days ago and was not aware of the matter. He advised contacting the Under Secretary. Under Secretary Seema Daheria said only senior officials, including the Health Commissioner or the Additional Chief Secretary, could respond. Messages sent to senior officials also did not receive a response. Complaint reaches Prime Minister’s Office The issue has also reached the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Dr. Divyansh Dwivedi filed a complaint with the PMO on June 9, alleging that doctors were not being given rural postings despite completing their postgraduate courses and that their original certificates had been withheld. The complaint said the delay had caused financial hardship and mental stress for doctors. The PMO registered the complaint as File No. F/3-0099750/2026. On June 19, it sought a response from the Madhya Pradesh Private University Regulatory Commission. However, the Madhya Pradesh government has not issued any public statement on the matter so far.