PG doctors' bond will be for short term, says KK Shailaja
The association has sought an appointment with the health minister.
Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister K.K. Shailaja’s statement that the three year bond after medical PG was meant for meeting shortage of super speciality doctors in the state, has evoked strong protests from PG doctors in the state.
“We expect to get sufficient number of PG doctors in two years. Once we reach a saturation point the bond system will be discontinued. We cannot get doctors from Bengal or Tamil Nadu to meet the shortage. We have to bank on doctors from Kerala,” she said. Medical PG Association state secretary Rahul U R said the minister’s statement exposed government’s game plan to retain doctors as bonded workers without giving permanent employment.
He said the minister’s statement was an admission of severe shortage of doctors However, the solution does not lie in three year bond. Instead of saving medical colleges from the threat of de-recognition and filling up the vacant, the government was resorting to unscientific methods like bonds, he said.
Meanwhile, Medical PG Association said the existing shortage could be solved by recruitment doctors in the entry cadre of assistant professors in medical colleges. The government had made it clear that during the three year bond period doctors will not be permitted to join any other services. This means PSC appointments during this period will benefit only students who complete PG course from private colleges.
The association has sought an appointment with the health minister. Itwould resort to indenfinte strike if the govemnt fails to resolve the bond issue.
