KOCHI: Apprehensive of the move by some vested interests to bring back the ‘standalone’ status for Ernakulam Medical College (EMC), which was shoved to the backburner after much furore, the non-doctors’ union of the hospital met PWD Minister V K Ibrahimkunju on Tuesday.
A union member, on condition of anonymity, said that the news going around is that the government is going to grant standalone status to the college for a period of five years. “As far as we know, this will spell major trouble as there will be no promotions, hikes and transfers if they are going to retain the ‘standalone’ tag,” he said.
The union member said that the minister has assured to convene a meeting in June to sort out the issues. They also met Chief Minister Oomman Chandy on Monday. “He too assured that a meeting will be convened soon,” he said.
The union alleged that the ‘standalone’ status is an excuse to retain those staff members who do not fit the criteria of a government medical college.