Punjab Health Dept Prefers GMC Graduates for 523 Posts of House Surgeons, Private Medical College Students see red

Faridkot:MBBS Graduates from private medical colleges in the State are upset with the Punjab Health Department's decision to prioritise the medical graduates from government medical institutes for the 523 posts of house surgeons for a period of six months in district and subdivisions hospitals.

The selection criterion for the State Health Department states that first preference would be given to the candidates doing their MBBS from government or government-funded medical colleges. Graduates from private medical colleges are next in the line of preference and lastly, Foreign medical graduates would be considered for these posts.

There are altogether 12 medical colleges in Punjab and among them, five colleges are funded by the State or the Central Government. Around 1,000 MBBS graduates pass out from private medical colleges on a yearly basis. Apart from them, around 150 medical graduates from abroad come to the State every year.

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The Government's decision of preferring MBBS graduates from Government Institutes was regretted by a Foreign Medical Graduate, who completed his MBBS from Ukraine five years ago, cleared the National Board of Examinations (NBE) and registered with the Punjab Medical Council.

It is necessary for all foreign medical graduates to clear the NBE exam and also get registered with the State Medical Council. As per the latest media report by The Tribune, thousands of graduates from local private medical colleges are upset with the criterion for hiring house surgeons in which preference is given to the alumnae of government medical colleges.

Meanwhile, commenting on the Health Department's policy, the Director of the State Health and Family Welfare Department, Dr. Adarshpal Kaur told the Daily that prioritising the graduates of government medical colleges was already set policy matter of the State Government.

She also informed that the recruitment process would be competed according to the Health Department policy. She further informed that medical graduates would be hired only for a period of six months for emergency and general duties and not for a single specialty.

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