Doctors seek permanent jobs on state cadre basis

● THE ZONAL system has been applied to give preference to doctors of the particular area or district. But the problem noted in Telangana state is that there are not enough doctors in all the zones for the posts.

Recruitment of healthcare workers must be on a permanent basis and not on contract, the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJDA) and the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) have urged. In a meeting with Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar on Thursday, doctors insisted that permanent recruitment must be made based on state cadre and not on zonal systems.

The zonal system has been applied to give preference to doctors of the particular area or district. But the problem noted in Telangana state is that there are not enough doctors in all the zones for the posts.

Three new medical colleges, one each in Suryapet, Mahbubnagar and Siddipet, and the Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) in Hyderabad have vacant posts but within their local area a sufficient number of applications have not been received. Fewer applications are also due to the contract clause which the doctors do not want. Many of them are looking at permanent posting in the government sector and are willing to wait for them.

Dr G. Srinivas, resident doctor and member of HRDA, explained, “Contract recruitment is not preferred as once a doctor goes on contract, there is only renewal but no permanent job. If this policy is not changed, these new medical colleges and TIMS will not have doctors joining them.”

The post of assistant professors is vacant but there are very few coming forward due to the contract clause. Similarly, there are not enough specialists joining medical colleges when the clause of the district-wise recruitment is applied. For this reason, the demand is that state cadre be given preference and appointments must be based on that factor alone.

There is a major shortage of healthcare workers in rural and urban areas, the HRDA said and demanded that recruitment must be done a priority and must be carried out soon.