THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: THE decision of the Director of Medical Education’s (DME) office to come up with draft rules for appointing MBBS doctors as faculty in medical colleges has invited criticism from the fraternity.
The doctors noted the rules were drafted by violating Medical Council of India (MCI) regulations, which strictly stipulate a person with MBBS qualification should not be appointed at the entry level. It added the government had not taken any policy decision in this regard.
The doctors said rules were drafted even as the LDF in its manifesto had proclaimed bringing professionalism into medical education. Moreover, the rules are contrary to what is mentioned in the draft health policy which states only persons with post graduation will be appointed as faculty in medical colleges.
With the DME going ahead with the rule, doctors have expressed doubt whether Kerala’s medical colleges would be able to produce qualified doctors. They also said there was a chance of the state losing medical seats in the future as MCI never considers lecturers with MBBS qualification as teaching faculty.
The same issue was raised a few months ago when application was invited for lecturer’s post in general surgery, with qualification specified as MBBS.
Kerala Government Post Graduate Medical Teachers Association (KGPGMTA) state president J S Ajith Prasad said it was going to be a disaster for the medical education sector.
“During the previous LDF rule, changes were made to the rules only after widely discussing the matter within the front and in the cabinet. Now, it’s being framed at the executive level and not at the political level,” said Prasad.
Prasad also said medical colleges could lose their recognition.The Kerala Medical Post Graduates Association (KMPGA), which had always opposed the move, made it clear it was clear violation of the existing MCI guidelines. KMPGA president P Jathin said the government was going ahead even when a large number of post graduate students were seeking appointment.KGMCTA state president Kavita Ravi said the move could dilute the faculty’s quality at the medical college.
“We need qualified teachers in our medical colleges. If MBBS doctors are taken as faculty, quality cannot be maintained,” she said.Meanwhile, Health Secretary Rajeev Sadanandan said priority would be given to PG doctors. “MBBS doctors will be considered only in the absence of PG doctors. This has been done to compensate the shortage of doctors,” said Sadanandan.