Govt proposes to raise doctors’ retirement age
SHORTAGE UP has over 18K posts for docs, but only a little over 12K are working in govt hosps
LUCKNOW:The state government proposes to raise the retirement age of doctors from current 62 years to 70 years to help cope with shortage of medical professionals in hospitals.
Confirming this, health minister Siddharthnath Singh said in an event on Thursday, “I shall propose to increase the retirement age to 70 years and the cabinet will take a decision on it.” The state has over 18,000 posts for doctors but a little over 12,000 are working in government hospitals. Among these, the number of specialists is even smaller, about 3500.
LUCKNOW :The state government proposes to raise the retirement age of doctors to 70 years to help cope with shortage of medical professionals in hospitals.
Confirming this, health minister Siddharthnath Singh said in an event on Thursday, “I shall propose to increase the retirement age to 70 years and the cabinet will take a decision on it.”
He said, “We wish to open more hospitals but not just structures. There is shortage of doctors, hence the proposal might help improve the situation.”
He said the extended job from 62 years to 70 years would be optional.
The minister was addressing the gathering after dedicating to the public the urban primary health centre at Ravidasnagar on the IIM Road.
The Provincial Medical Services Association (PMSA), a body of government doctors, has welcomed the proposal but with a rider.
“Many doctors might not wish to continue, hence if there is option to retire after 60 years, we welcome the proposal,” said Dr Amit Singh, general secretary PMSA.
At present the retirement age is 62 years, so if the option to retire is added, it will be at the age of 62 years.
A PMSA delegation met the health minister in the morning and demanded the same along with post mortem examination allowance and revision of nonpractising allowance. “In fact, we can work even beyond 70 years but only those who wish to work should be made to do so, not those who wish to retire. Staying with family is the right of an individual, so a person should not be compelled to work against his wish,” said PMSA president Dr Ashok Yadav.
The state has over 18,000 posts for doctors but a little over 12,000 are working in government hospitals. Among these, the number of specialists is even smaller, about 3500. To note, there are only 107 radiologists in government hospitals against 917 posts. To meet the shortage, the health department is going to start tele-medicine and teleradiology facilities in 28 district of the state from January.
Health minister Siddharthnath Singh later visited Era’s Medical College and took stock of patients being treated under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He met patients Irshad Ahmad and Satrohan Lal and asked them about their health. The officials of Era’s Medical College briefed the health minister about the facilities being provided to the patients.