Hyderabad: Changes to Maternity Leave Policy for Postgraduate Medical Students

KNRUHS Clarifies New Guidelines

Postgraduate medical students in Telangana who take maternity leave during their residency will no longer be subject to a rejoining fee, according to a recent clarification from the Kaloji Narayana University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS). The Registrar of KNRUHS communicated this update to the heads of all medical and dental institutes affiliated with the university.

Extended Study Period for Maternity Leave

The clarification states that all female PG medical students are eligible for maternity leave, and the duration of their postgraduate studies will be extended by a period equivalent to their leave. Additionally, upon returning from maternity leave, students will be readmitted to their courses without the imposition of a rejoining fee.

Support for PG Residents

The university has emphasized that PG residents can utilize any remaining leave balance from the academic year after they resume their studies. This decision follows repeated requests from junior resident doctors in Telangana for clearer guidelines and institutional support regarding maternity leave.

Issues Faced by Female Postgraduates

In previous communications to government authorities, including the Health Minister and the Vice Chancellor of KNRUHS, the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) highlighted the significant challenges faced by female postgraduate students during maternity leave. The association pointed out that the lack of well-defined guidelines leads to academic, financial, and emotional distress for these students.

Concerns Regarding Rejoining Process

The association further noted that the rejoining process after maternity leave has been both delayed and costly. Female postgraduates returning from a mandatory three-month maternity leave previously faced a rejoining fee of ₹15,000. Even after payment, they often experienced delays of 15 to 20 days or longer for university approval, during which they were denied access to academic and clinical resources.

Stipend and Leave Policies

TJUDA also mentioned that female PG students do not receive a stipend during their extended leave period and are unable to take casual leave for medical emergencies or child-related health issues.

Previous Representations

The issue was previously raised by the Telangana Senior Resident Doctors Association (TSRDA), highlighting the difficulties women postgraduate medical doctors face while taking maternity leave in both government and private hospitals.

University’s Response and Regulations

In response to these representations, KNRUHS issued clarifications regarding maternity leave policies for undergraduate, postgraduate, and super specialty students. The Registrar outlined that rejoining students must adhere to government orders, university rules, and the guidelines set forth by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and Dental Council of India (DCI).

Rules for Readmission

The university provided specific rules regarding readmission based on the duration of leave:

– **Leave up to 90 days:** Permission for rejoining is granted by the Principal/Dean upon the student’s return.
– **Leave exceeding 91 days:** Students must submit a Readmission Application and pay a fee of ₹15,000. Their application will be processed without delay to ensure immediate rejoining.
– **Break of study in multiple spells exceeding 91 days:** Such cases will be reviewed by the Executive Council of KNRUHS and forwarded to the Telangana government for further action.
– **Continuous absence of two years or more:** Absences of this duration will result in automatic forfeiture of admission.

Maternity Leave Policy for Women Postgraduate Students

All women postgraduate students are entitled to maternity leave according to existing government orders, with their study period extended accordingly. Upon receiving a maternity leave request, college principals must communicate with KNRUHS for approval.

Once students return from maternity leave, they will be readmitted immediately, and the rejoining fee will not apply. Additionally, any unused leave balance can be taken during the extension period.

The university has instructed all medical and dental college principals and deans to adhere to these guidelines to prevent any inconvenience for students rejoining classes.