Jharkhand News : Five-Year Government Service Mandatory for MBBS Graduates in Jharkhand, New Rule to Be Introduced
The Jharkhand government is set to make it mandatory for MBBS graduates from government medical colleges in the state to serve for five years in government hospitals. State Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari said that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be introduced soon, and the new rule will be implemented shortly.
Speaking on Wednesday after interacting with patients during OPD hours at Dhanbad Sadar Hospital, the health minister said the move aims to address the shortage of doctors across the state, especially in government and rural hospitals.
Expansion of Medical Colleges and Facilities
During his visit, Dr Ansari also inaugurated advanced medical equipment at Dhanbad Medical College Hospital, including a C-arm machine, anaesthesia workstation, and other modern facilities for the orthopaedics department.
He announced that eight new medical colleges will be established in Jharkhand, with the process for four colleges already underway. The minister said the government plans to develop the coal belt (Koylanchal) as Jharkhand’s medical hub within the next four years. A new medical college will also be set up in Dhanbad in the name of Dishom Guru Shibu Soren.
At present, Jharkhand has a total of 1,255 MBBS seats, including those in AIIMS, government, and private medical colleges.
New Building and Advanced Technology at Dhanbad Medical College
The health minister said that steps have been initiated to demolish the old building of Dhanbad Medical College and construct a new one. In the future, patients will be treated using artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technology, which will improve the quality and accuracy of healthcare services.
He also urged doctors to maintain courteous behaviour toward patients and their families, while warning that strict action will be taken against anyone who misbehaves with doctors.
OPD Delay and Patient Interaction
Although the OPD was scheduled for 11 am, the minister arrived around three hours late and attended to three patients. While leaving the hospital, he noticed an injured child, got down from his vehicle, returned to the hospital, and instructed officials to ensure proper medical treatment. He also interacted with patients’ attendants at the medical college campus.
Ayushman Bharat and Private Hospitals
On the role of private hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Dr Ansari said the government is making continuous efforts to ensure better healthcare facilities for Ayushman beneficiaries in private hospitals. He added that the government is serious about tackling the shortage of doctors, with recruitment processes moving at a fast pace.
