Raisin age of PG Medicos raises apprehension

In a move raising suspicions on government's intention to raise the retirement age of Medicos, the upper age limit of service quota doctors for PG Courses has been increased. The decision has already drawn flak with a majority coming out saying that it could be the first step towards increasing the retirement age of doctors and restricting recruitment.    

As per the new guidelines for PG Medical Courses, the upper age limit for PG Degree course is 52 while its 53 for PG Diploma, and has to furnish a bond to work for 5 years, which means they will be in service even after retiring at 56. The degree course is for three years and diploma for 2 years. As per the bond, they should serve for 5 years, which means until 60 years they can be in service. 

Once the doctors complete the course, they are bound to work for another 5 years, which means no recruitment is done.  This is clearly a step towards  increasing the retirement age, the doctors said.  

Stating that there was no issue with respect to the increase of age, Kerala Government Medical Officers Association state president Dr E P Mohanan said ''as such there is no issue and recruitment is taking place. The admission in the service quota is like a bonus for the service that a doctor has rendered all his life.'' 

Moreover, he said that the bond is not mandatory unless the government insists it.  When asked if it would not be draining the exchequer as the doctors pursuing the course are studying with government money, Mohanan said ''the issue raises only if deputation comes into affect. As of now, no deputation is given.'' 

Meanwhile,  Kerala Government Specialist Doctors Association (KGSDA) secretary Dr Sunjith Ravi mentioned that deputation should not be given.  Apart from the increase of age, he pointed out that there was a disparity with regard to eligibility.  ''The Prospects points out that service candidates selected for/undergone PG Degree course will not be eligible for selection under service quota for a second time. However, a candidate who has obtained PG Diploma under service quota is eligible to apply for degree course in the same specialty and is entitled to get service quota benefit.  It is injustice to applicants who have entered the health service and the government should look into it,'' he said. 

Source: The New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/411720/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/07-01-2015#page/4/1 

Massive Failure of Medicos in Kerala Raises Concern

The massive failure of medical students in the state, particularly in the private medical colleges, has raised serious concern among the medical fraternity, who point out quality erosion in the medical education sector, including shortage of faculty and lack of infrastructure for the failure.

With the results out for the first year MBBS, a majority of the self financing and private colleges showed a poor performance than the government medical colleges. As per the results, some colleges had 90 per cent failure and in total more than 30 per cent of the students have failed.

''The failure only shows that the medical education sector is distorted,'' said Dr B Eqbal, former Vice-chancellor of Kerala University and a public health activist. The Kerala University of Health Sciences should have to reassess the affiliation given to the medical colleges that has come out with such poor result.

It is alleged that the quality of medical education has come down with the uncontrolled proliferation of medical colleges in the state. There are not enough qualified faculty and also proper infrastructure for ensuring that the students are given the best education, it is alleged. It is also said that the faculty at the institutions are not given proper training.

Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Sreejith N Kumar said that the results were of serious concern and all the aspects that led to the failure should be analysed. ''The absence of dedicated faculty and lack of infrastructure are some of the reasons that the IMA sees as a cause,'' he said. Most of the medical colleges engage faculty during the time of MCI inspection, which has to be strictly monitored, he said. Kumar noted that a detailed analysis of the student intake was also needed. Noting that the KUHS also had a major role in ensuring quality of education, he said '' apart from the MCI inspections, the KUHS should also conduct random checks and ensure that a system is in place for improving quality of medical education.

source The Newindian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/398000/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/18-12-2014#page/6/1