Uncertainty looms over the chairman’s post of the Karnataka Health System Commission (KHSC) even as the Medical Education Department has said that the file recommending the name of Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor, N Prabhu Dev has been sent back to the government.
Citing reasons for the disapproval, sources said that the Commission was approved six months ago to bring significant reforms and improvements in medical education but the government recommended just one candidate’s name even before the eligibility criteria were formed.
Eligible candidates are present for the post of the Chairman, but just one candidate has been backed due to vested interests, they added.
“Despite the disapproval by the Medical Education Department, the nomination of the Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor as the designate chairman of KSHC is being processed by the Health Department,” stated the official and added, “Medical Education and Health are two separate departments. The Health Department has taken up the onus of appointing the chairman of KSHC without the approval of the Medical Education Department.”
KSHC was approved by the Cabinet in March, to improve medical education with effective recommendations and suggestions. However, the Department of Health and Family Welfare (DHFW) has now taken up the process of appointment surpassing the consent of the Medical Education Department.
Madan Gopal, principal secretary, DHFW, said that no particular recommendation of any candidate was made for the KSHC chairman’s post. “The eligibility criteria for the chairman and the panel member is yet to be formulated. The Chief Minister will take the final call on the appointment of the Chairman for KSHC,” he said.
Meanwhile, Medical Education Minister S A Ramdas said that the approval of KSHC was brought to his notice six months ago and no other information has reached the department on the same.