Kerala: Today shortage of SR posts, tomorrow shortage of Assistant professors

Kottayam: Citing a limited number of Senior Residency Posts in Kerala, the doctors in the State have demanded the Government's intervention and an increase in the number of these posts.

The doctors have pointed out that a limited number of SR posts will be highly detrimental to medical academia as today the shortage of posts for senior residents will mean having fewer assistant professors tomorrow.

As per the National Medical Commission (NMC) rules, it is mandatory for doctors to undergo a one-year senior residency in recognised medical colleges to apply for the post of Assistant Professorship, which is the entry-level post in medical colleges for doctors wishing to pursue their career in medical academia.

On one hand, every year 882 medicos complete junior residency from government medical colleges in the State, and on the other, Kerala only has around 523 senior residency posts available.

The problem is even worse for doctors in the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) joining PG courses through the service quota. These doctors receive directions for returning to work without joining senior residency.

Apart from demanding an increase in the number of Senior Residency posts, the doctors have also urged the State Government to intervene and requested the National Medical Commission (NMC) to grant special permission for the relaxation of its rules.

The Commission issued a gazette notification in this regard in February 2020 and amended the basic qualification for teachers in medical institutions. The eligibility qualifications mentioned for the post of Assistant Professors mentioned, "3 years Junior Resident in a recognized permitted medical college in the concerned subject and one year as Senior Resident in the concerned subject in a recognized permitted medical college. In case of DNB candidate equated to MD/MS in terms of clause 4A of Schedule-I, in addition to 3 year teaching experience in the subject as Resident/ Registrar/ Demonstrator/ Tutor/ or work experience gained during DNB training, one year as Senior Resident in the concerned subject in a recognized/permitted medical college."

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Whereas undergoing senior residency is mandatory to apply for the post of Assistant Professorship, as per the latest media report by The New Indian Express, there is a huge disparity between the number of PG medicos and senior resident vacancies in medical colleges. Last week, the government invited applications for the posts of assistant professors in various departments. However, several medicos, who failed to get the opportunity for senior residency, could not apply for the assistant professorship. These medicos are running from pillar to post seeking relaxation in the guidelines.

Back in September, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had set aside a rank list of assistant professors published by the Kerala Public Service Commission. CAT clarified at that time that the list did not include one-year SRship in the minimum qualifications. Against this backdrop, the medicos have sought urgent intervention from the Government to put pressure on the Apex Medical Commission to relax the norms.

Commenting on the matter, a doctor working under the Directorate of Medical Education informed the Daily on the condition of anonymity, "The state government should apprise the NMC of the peculiar situation in Kerala. Besides seeking special permission to relax the rules this time, the government should also ensure all the medicos can pursue senior residency."

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Apart from this, the medicos in Kerala have also demanded a proper system for senior residency and urged to increase the seats for SRship. Speaking about the issue, Dr Irfan Hassan Rawther, former office-bearer of Kerala Medical PG Association (KMPGA) opined, "The government is reluctant to increase senior residency seats citing financial burden. However, this can be addressed if it allows senior residency in peripheral hospitals. This will also address the shortage of doctors in the hospitals without placing any additional financial burden on the government."

Meanwhile, the Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association (KGMOA) has suggested issuing a special order for appointing all the doctors passing the PSC qualifying exam as assistant professors and consider them as senior residents for the first year exclusively in their tutorial roles without affecting salary, seniority, and service benefits.

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