Taking a serious view of the reluctance shown by medicos in Maharashtra to join government medical services for a year after their graduation, the health department is considering a proposal to stop financial assistance to those students who dont want to fulfil the bond.

"The government spends nearly Rs 30-40 lakh on each student and it is expected that they commit themselves to serve in government medical service especially in rural areas for a year. If they do not wish to serve in rural areas in government service, they should pay the full fees like in private colleges," health department officials said.

If they violate the bond, Rs 50,000- Rs two crore can be recovered from them. The penalty amount varies for diploma, graduate and post-graduate medical courses, they said.

It has been noticed that students neither pay the bond amount nor join the stipulated one-year government service bond.

In a bid to ensure co-ordination, health department held regular meetings with Medical education ministry for the three months since June this year to increase the number of students in the bonded placement.

About 275 students were given placements in the first week of September as per their area of interest and were asked to join duty by September 22. However, only 91 students including 44 MBBS reported for duty. And after the health department complained to the Medical education department, more 200 students reported for work.

The total vacancies this year in the bonded placement was over 400. Sources said chief minister Prithviraj Chavan will soon convene a meeting to discuss the issue.