Young Doctors Oppose Move to Extend Professors’ Retirement Age

AP government's proposal to increase the retirement age of professors in government medical colleges has raised concerns among young doctors. They fear it will reduce employment opportunities and delay long-pending recruitments for the posts of teaching and specialist doctors.

The government’s proposal has come at a time when government medical colleges are facing a shortage of teaching faculty. Shortage of faculty had even led to the National Medical Commission (NMC) reducing postgraduate medical seats in AP. The government is exploring ways of addressing this shortage while ensuring that medical colleges meet the faculty requirements prescribed by the NMC.

To tackle the issue, Health and Family Welfare minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav recently asked the Director of Medical Education to prepare a proposal to increase the retirement age of professors in government medical colleges from the existing 63 years to between 65 and 70 years. The proposal is under consideration.

However, Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA) has opposed the move. It argues that extending the retirement age is only a temporary measure. It does not address the root cause of the faculty shortage. APJUDA maintains that delays in filling sanctioned posts and lack of regular recruitment, rather than a shortage of qualified doctors, have led to the present situation.

According to the association, around 200 of the nearly 800 sanctioned professor posts in 17 government medical colleges are vacant. The shortage is severe in super-speciality departments, where nearly 66 per cent of faculty positions remain unfilled. APJUDA fears that extending the retirement age would further reduce vacancies available for recruitment and delay appointments of assistant professors, civil assistant surgeons, senior residents, and specialists.

APJUDA president Dr. U. Eswar Shankar and vice president Dr. P. Poojitha said the association respects the experience and contribution of senior doctors to the public healthcare system. However, they maintained that strengthening the healthcare system requires regular recruitment, rather than postponing retirements.

"Many postgraduate doctors have completed years of medical education and training. They are waiting for government appointments. Retaining senior faculty for a longer period would slow the career progression of young medical professionals," The APJUDA office bearers pointed out, urging the government to fill all vacant posts immediately.

They have called for regular recruitment of specialists and teaching faculty, creation of additional posts based on patient load, timely promotions for serving government doctors, and strengthening of district and teaching hospitals by appointing young specialists. It said experienced doctors could continue to contribute through contractual appointments, mentorship, advisory roles, and academic consultancy without affecting regular recruitment or promotional opportunities for younger doctors.