THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Of total 703 PG seats and 101 super specialty seats in government medical colleges, 30 are facing problems of recognition. The authorities seem to be more keen on adding fresh seats than getting recognition for unrecognised PG seats in the state. Many doctors who have completed course and are working on contract basis in different medical colleges are not able to get regular appointments through PSC in the absence of recognition. Some of the doctors are even thinking of quitting contract jobs. Most of the PG seats which have not got recognition are mainly in medical colleges at Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Thrissur. Several efforts have been made in vain since 2013 to get recognition for many of these seats.
In Kottayam medical college PG seats in medicine, surgery, forensic medicine, physiology, preventive medicine, dermatology, physical medicine, radio diagnosis specialities and urology super speciality are facing problems for recognition. Because of this nearly 50 doctors are confronting problems. According to estimates, in a given year in the state at least 208 PG doctors would not be getting MCI recognition. In three years the number of doctors whose future will be uncertain would come to 600. If those who did the course earlier are also taken into consideration, the number would go up to 1000.
The MCI has already warned that if deficiencies in Thrissur medical college surgery, orthopaedics and forensic departments in Kottayam medical college are not removed at the earliest, their future will be at stake. For instance three years have passed since recognition was lost for medicine department PG seats at Kottayam medical college which were increased from 10 to 14. Some of the major reasons for losing recognition are existing vacancies in entry cadre of assistant professors, senior resident doctors’ vacancies, non compliance with the formalities for promotions, absence of state of the art diagnostic equipment like MRI, shortage of beds in wards and ICU and lack of facilities for patient care and research/publications. Experts say of the total posts of 2125 in government medical education sector, 450 odd are lying vacant.
