Shimla Doctors Call for Overhaul of Service Bond and PG Stipends

In a press note that felt part protest, part plea, the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, asked the Himachal Pradesh government to rethink three key policies that, in their view, are pushing promising doctors away.

First up is the three‑year compulsory service bond. The RDA says a blanket three‑year stint, especially when coupled with a hefty Rs 40 lakh penalty for anyone who tries to break it, is simply unrealistic for many young physicians.

“We’re not trying to be difficult,” said Maj Birsukhman Singh, the association’s president, “we just want a system that recognises the pressures of modern residency and doesn’t trap doctors in a financial nightmare.”

Second, the doctors highlighted that the state’s postgraduate (PG) stipends are among the lowest in the country. While residents juggle emergency rooms, intensive‑care units and long‑hour wards, they are paid a fraction of what their peers earn elsewhere.

The RDA warned that the combination of a long bond, a massive monetary fine and meagre pay could scare off high‑ranking candidates in the upcoming NEET‑PG 2026 counselling. “If the seats stay empty or get filled by lower‑rank candidates, the whole PG training ecosystem suffers,” they cautioned.

Adding to the frustration is the “No Stipend, No Bond” policy the state has been following. According to the association, hundreds of resident doctors have been left without any stipend at all, even though they are working round‑the‑clock.

To address these issues, the RDA is asking for three concrete steps: slash the Rs 40 lakh bond penalty, trim the mandatory service period and raise the PG stipend to match national benchmarks.

They also urged the government to start the dialogue well before the NEET‑PG counselling begins and to involve resident‑doctor groups in any policy‑making that affects medical education and patient care.

The association has formally sent its demands to the principal of IGMC, the state health secretary, the health minister and the chief minister, hoping for a quick and positive response.