Medicos against increasing pension age

The government is all out for increasing the pension age of doctors despite protest from the medical fraternity, who allege it as a move to help a few in the administrative wing whose tenure ends this March. Moreover, the government is for increasing the retirement age at a time hundreds of doctors are in waiting in the PSC list that has been pending for a long time. 

It is learned that there is much pressure from political parties, office of the Directorate of Medical Education and Directorate of Health Services even though the health department is known to have raised certain objections.  The proposal with the health department is to increase the retirement age of doctors in the DME from 60 to 63 and those with the health service from  56 to 58. 

All the major associations such as the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA), Junior Doctors Association (JDA), Kerala Medical Postgraduates Association (KMPGA) and Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) and Kerala Government Specialist Doctors Association (KGSDA) point out that increasing pension age will only hamper employment opportunities.

Meanwhile Health Minister V S Sivakumar said that no such file has come before him. ''Nothing of that such sort is being discussed now,'' he said. However, it is known that the department has already gone ahead with the proposal under much pressure.

Source: The newindianexpress 

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/425278/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/26-01-2015#page/4/1

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 

laproscopic Sterlisation: Docs denied medico-legal support

Doctors in the government sector performing laproscopic sterilisation are a worried lot with the government not providing medico-legal support if and when the persons subject to such surgery approach the court. Once the doctors face court cases, they only get support from the Professional Protection Scheme of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and that too only provided to life term members.

Noting that failures can happen in some persons who undergo laproscopic sterlisation, the doctors said that they were not getting the due support in most of the cases. IMA state secretary Dr A V Jayakrishnan said ''The doctors now perform laproscopic sterlisation at their own risk. They face mental trauma and physical strain when fighting the case individually at a time the sterilisation is being done as part of a national programme,'' he said.

Moreover, people file cases even after signing the approval letter that clearly states that they would avail the insurance amount as part of the national programme if there is a failure. Most of the people are said to file cases if they get a girl child after the sterlisation failure. If its a boy child, no cases are generally filed, the doctors said. Another thing pointed out is that the people who undergo sterilisation are asked to approach the doctor in case of any failure. But in most cases, they do not turn up but only approach the court.

Stating that fighting cases without any support was difficult most of the time, Dr Maya of the Women and Child Hospital, Thycaud, said '' it is really hard for fighting the case all alone. The only support that we get is from the IMA and that too only if a doctor is a life term member.''

source: The New Indian express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/326824/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/26-08-2014#page/6/1

Specialist Doctors Peeved over Disparity

The Specialist Doctors in the Health Service have raised concern over disparity in work, promotion and raised other issues while their counterpart under the Medical Education Department are enjoying an upper hand. Working at par with those in the medical education department, the specialist doctors demand better treatment from the government.

With the inequality between the Specialist doctors in the Health Service and the medicos under the Medical Education department, the Kerala Government Specialist Doctors Association (KGSDA), which had recently got the recognition, is all set to approach the government and demand a serious approach to the issues of those working in the Health Service.

Pointing out that there was much inequality when coming to administrative cadre, salary, promotions and a lot more, KGSDA secretary Dr Sunjith Ravi said that they would be approaching the Health Minister and raise their concerns. ''We are all medicos working with the government. But when it comes to the health service, the government has a different approach,'' he said.

Source: The New Indian express 

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/300095/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/07-07-2014#page/4/1