SAMBALPUR: Protesting the transfer of 11 doctors of VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla without a provision for relievers, the students of the institution staged a demonstration on Sunday.
The State Government had issued transfer orders for 11 out of 16 faculty members of VIMSAR to the newly-formed medical colleges at Koraput and Baripada, leaving the posts vacant.
Stating that the transfers would leave the premier institution of Western Odisha crippled, the irate students gheraoed VIMSAR Superintendent Brajamohan Mishra over the issue and demanded withdrawal of transfer orders.
Convener of Joint Committee of Under Graduate Students’ Union, House Surgeons’ Association and Post-Graduate Students’ Association of VIMSAR, Shankar Ramchandani, said 16 doctors of VIMSAR got promotion by Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC). Of them, 11 have been transferred despite the fact that five of the doctors had evinced interest to work in VIMSAR, he added. Prior to the transfers, the hospital was managing with thin staff, he said and demanded that all the vacancies be filled up at the earliest.
VIMSAR caters to the patients of Western Odisha, besides parts of neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Jharkahand and has a sanctioned strength of 210 doctors for 29 departments. Of the total, 94 posts have been lying vacant since long. If the present transfers come into effect, the number of vacancies would further rise hitting health services badly.
Ramchandani threatened to intensify the stir if the State Government fails to fulfil their demands. The students’ agitation received a shot in the arm with several social organisations assuring to fight jointly with them.
The Superintendent of VIMSAR, too, said the demands are genuine and they will apprise the Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) about the issue. He also admitted that transfer of doctors without their relievers will certainly impact health services in the institution.