SON PATTNAIK Vs. STATE OF ODISHA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Doctors are at the core of our health system. For decades, India has been struggling with a shortage with the latest estimates suggesting that only 0.9 doctors are available per 1000 population, which is far less than the WHO is recommended minimum of 1/1000. The situation is worse in rural areas which is home to 72% of India's population but are served by only 40% of India's doctors. Thepolicy with respect to the Bond Doctors have been amended, relaxed, cancelled, and re-implemented at least ten times since the inception of such policy in 1996.Subsequently, the Post- PG bond doctors also joined the band wagon in order to rectify the issue of misdistribution of doctors in the State.

(2.) At the ground level such doctors face myriad hurdles impeding their motivation to serve in the rural areas. In order to encourage such Doctors, after completion of their Post-graduation, the serve as post PG bond service for 2 years, and in order to infuse fresh motivation, the State Government have allowed to count such service towards the teaching experience of 2 years as SR. The Director Medical Education and Training, Odisha vide its notice dtd. 17/3/2022 modified its Bond conditions as;

(3.) The present Writs petitions raise the issue of allowing the post PG bond doctors to participate in the selection process of SR like the fresh PG candidates, despite the fact that their service of two years shall be counted towards the teaching experience of two years as SR as per the policy of the Government.