THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:With the state government taking no efforts to fill the vacant posts of doctors at medical colleges, patient care has been badly affected and the state is likely to lose the PG seats allotted last time.
As many as 45 doctors have retired from the various medical colleges in the past three months. The DME post and that of the Kozhikode Medical College principal are also vacant. However, the government has not yet filled a single post, which has led to the confusion.
Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association state president Dr K Mohanan says that about 45 vacancies have to be filed in the various medical colleges in the posts of professors as well as assistant professors.
Apart from affecting patient care, he says it will be difficult to safeguard the PG seats allotted. “The MCI will have its inspections in June when the PG examinations are held. If the MCI comes across shortage of doctors at the medical colleges, the state will lose the seats that were allotted last time,’’ he says.
Stating that the association has already submitted a memorandum to the government to fill the vacancies at the earliest, he says the government that usually takes the initiative for transfer and postings by June, is maintaining silence. Alleging that there is a concerted move to bring down the quality of medical education, Junior Doctors Association state president Mohammed Shaffi says, ‘’If the vacancies are not filled, it could have a very negative impact. The delay in filling the vacancies will only help private players. It is the patient care that is going to be adversely affected’’. Moreover, he also points out that the state may lose PG seats if adequate staff are not posted.
Meanwhile, KGMCTA former secretary C P Vijayan says that the government is least bothered about filling the posts. Noting that it is a grave situation, he says that it will affect patient care.
