The Hindu : National : Acute shortage of specialists in GHs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007
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National

Acute shortage of specialists in GHs

K. Subramanian

In Puducherry and Karaikal region

KARAIKAL: Acute shortage of specialists in several disciplines is posing problem to the patients in all the Government Hospitals in the Union Territory of Puducherry and also in Karaikal region, said A.M.H.Nazeem, DMK MLA of Karaikal and Leader of the Opposition in Puducherry Assembly here on Monday.

Mr. Nazeem who was also former Health Minister of Puducherry, told The Hindu that there a were large number of vacancies of specialists because of superannuation, voluntary retirement, resignation, etc. and pointed out that the cont ract specialists did not fulfil the responsibilities of regular specialists.

It takes two to five years to fill the vacancies by the time Union Public Service Commission recruits and new specialists join, he said.

He pointed out that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued an order in November last enhancing the age of superannuation age of specialist doctors from 60 to 62 years.

“Extend age limit”

The Puducherry Government having constituted Puducherry Health Services Cadre on the lines of Central Health Services for doctors should automatically extend the age limit for specialist doctors with immediate effect. Mr. Nazeem said that he was disappointed that the Puducherry Government did not extend the age limit of specialist doctors to 62 even after it had received the communication from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare seven months ago.

He pointed out that several specialists had retired from service and many others would be retiring soon, thus depriving the services of specialists to the poor people.

He said that during his tenure as Health Minister, the services of several specialists were extended till date of joining of new incumbent selected by the UPSC and suggested to the Puducherry Government to continue for all specialist doctors as juniors would not be affected by such extension at the time of retirement.

Mr. Nazeem appealed to the Lt. Governor of Puducherry, Mukut Mithi, to extend the retirement age of specialist doctors to 62 as per the order of the Centre as many government specialist doctors had started joining private medical colleges.

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