Imphal, July 26 2009: Many doctors of Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Porompat, defying agreed terms, have left the State-run hospital with Government apathy, poor service condition and external pressure being some of the factors forcing these medical experts to abandon their home State.

According to sources in the Health Department, over 25 doctors of JN Hospital have left the State to seek greener pastures inspite of the fact that such deflux is in violation of a previously agreed term the doctors had signed with authorities of the State Health Depart ment: It is informed that doctors employed under the State's Health Department have to sign an agreement with the Secretariat (Health Depart ment) in case of post-graduate studies which is pursued under the spon sorship of the Govt of Manipur.

During the post-graduate study stint, doctors approved for such knowledge expan sion programme, are granted leave and continue to receive monthly salary apart from the Govt sponsorship.

When proposal for the study is placed before the State Government, the doc tor concerned is required to sign the deal that clearly specifies that on completion of the post-graduate course, the doctor should mandatorily serve under the Health Department for not less than three years.

The agreement, besides the bonding clause, also lays down that in case the said doctor violates agreed terms and conditions, he/she is li able to pay a penalty amount of Rs 3 lakh.

Disclosing that many doc tors, whose studies were sponsored, had been leaving JN Hospital defying the agreement, the sources said that while the prescribed norms are being abused there is hardly any sign or example of the State Government en forcing punitive action.

Despite the prohibition imposed by the Secretariat (Health Department) against the 'sponsored' doctors from leaving the State-run hospi tal or to join other medical institutions outside Manipur prior to completion of the stipulated completion of the stipulated period, JN Hospital is being continuously abandoned, they informed.

It has been informed that among the doctors who left JN Hospital in the recent past include one expert each in nephrology and x-ray and three surgeons.

Moreover, about 15 senior doctors have left for greener pastures outside the State in the last 4-5 years while atleast seven others have chosen retirement well ahead of their service period, the sources recounted.

Discrepancy in the transfer and posting policy of the Government, anomaly in rules governing service condition (promotion) of the doctors and higher wage rate/incentives in medical centres outside Manipur are some factors reportedly cited by the 15 senior doctors who left JN Hospital.

The seven doctors who retired voluntarily from the only State Government-run hospital are said to have been prised out of their service owing to intolerable pressure from unwanted sources as a direct fallout of the prevailing law and order uncertainty in the State.

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