Quality of teaching suffers as docs not promoted for 10 yrs

Some medical colleges are without regular principals, senior docs

With no promotions in the medical and education department of health for the last 10 years, the medical joint action committee has complained to health minister Etala Rajender that it is affecting the quality of education and also creating hurdles for aspiring doctors to continue in government service.

The new medical colleges in Mahabubnagar and Siddipet require principals and superintendents and senior doctors need to be appointed. But as all hiring is stalled, there are only incharge positions created. This has hampered the morale of senior doctors in Telangana as their juniors are being appointed as in-charges.

A senior doctor, on condition of anonymity, said “The problems in Nizamabad and Warangal during the pandemic are an indication of how junior in-charge doctors have not been able to take the pressure and have resigned. The appointment of senior doctors would have helped in this fire-fighting situation and there would have been control measures in place. It is high time the government appoints senior doctors as they are required not only for the new colleges but also existing ones.”

According to the Medical Council of India, doctors older than 58 years of age must not hold administrative posts. Dr Bongu Ramesh, chairman of the joint action committee for medical education, said “There is a notification issued that they must be promoted and their services must be utilised in medical colleges. But that is not happening. We are seeing a lot of people coming on an adhoc basis and that affects medical education.”

At the same time, with no promotions in the department, morale is affected as there are no incentives to look forward to. Another senior doctor, on condition of anonymity, explained “The age limit of retirement has increased from 58 to 65 years. As a result, those looking forward to getting promoted as professors now have to wait. In the meantime, juniors are elevated to positions for which they are not eligible. This is leading to a lot of bad blood in the fraternity.” The doctors complain that neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has carried out promotions twice in 10 years while they are still waiting.