THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Majority of medical college doctors want the proposed medical colleges at the general hospital here and Konni dropped as the decision would affect the existing medical colleges which are already reeling under staff shortage and inadequate infrastructure.
The issue was brought to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s notice during the state conference of Kerala Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) here the other day. It was pointed out that the newly formed medical colleges at Idukki and Manjeri were already facing serious problems.
The chief minister heard the views of doctors but said his government was committed to opening medical colleges in every district. Moreover, he pointed out his government’s goal to provide free health care services to all by becoming the first state to implement Right to Health.
However, the chief minister was open to further discussions with the association on the issue and sort out their problems. He also sought the cooperation of doctors in the running and development of medical colleges.
KGMCTA is also annoyed with the government for combining the medical education service and health service doctors especially in the newly formed medical colleges.
Those coming from health service sector don’t take classes hence combining them with medical college doctors who come under the directorate of medical education is causing confusion in the medical sector. Even the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) was against this combination.
“We hope the government will find a permanent solution to this problem,” said a doctor. Besides, the medical college doctors rued the decision of authorities to insist on research papers for promotion. Many doctors say under the present circumstances it was difficult to fulfil the criteria since transfers are taking place very frequently.
“For publishing a good research work one requires two to three years. But many transfers are taking after one or two years,” said a KGMCTA member.
The KGMCTA has reiterated its demand for reinstating 13 posts whci had been redeployed from Thiruvananthapuram adn Kozhikode medical colleges for the newly formed colleges in Manjeri and Idukki.
