Rajasthan's Healthcare Paradox: Trained Doctors, But No Jobs in 13 specialities

Jaipur: Despite completing their postgraduate degrees, the doctors in 13 different specialities in Rajasthan are unable to contribute to the State public health sector as the Rajasthan Government has not created any posts of junior specialists, senior specialists, and principal specialities in those specialities in its hospitals. 

These specialties include biochemistry, radiation oncology, transfusion medicine, preventive and social medicine, emergency medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, palliative medicine, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, nuclear medicine, family medicine, and hospital administration.

Even though the MBBS doctors have completed their post-graduation in these 13 different specialities in the State's medical colleges and many are studying the courses, there is not a single approved position in those 13 specialities in medical colleges, district and sub-district hospitals.

Due to this, neither the people nor the State Government are able to utilise the money invested in the specialised education of the doctors studying these specialities. On the other hand, the medical students who are pursuing their PG degrees in these specialties are also worried about their future due to the limited opportunities to work in the State.

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Generally, the doctors having PG degrees in these 13 specialities get appointed as medical officers in government hospitals in rural areas. As a result, their specialised skills do not get utilised at such places, which lack the proper infrastructure for specialist doctors.

Raising the issue, the doctors under the United Doctors Front (UDF), Rajasthan, met the State Health Minister Gajendra Khimsar recently and urged him to create posts in those specialties.

Explaining the matter, Dr Bharat Pareek, the President of United Doctors Front (UDF), Rajasthan, told Medical Dialogues, "With the growth of medical science, the number of specialities increased. While previously, PG studies used to be conducted only in 10 departments, now, it is conducted in 24 departments. But, the Government is continuing with the old posts and has not made any changes considering the increase in the number of specialities. NMC has increased the number of specialties with time. However, the State has kept the old number of posts only. Now, there are 13 such departments in which, students are pursuing their PG medical education. The State Government is also sending the Medical Officers to pursue their PG degrees in those specialities. However, when they go back to their government service, they have to keep working there as Medical Officers meaning as MBBS doctors only. So, their three years of education get wasted. They are not being given work as per their competencies."

"For instance, the Biochemistry department conducts all the major tests. Even though there are labs, there are no posts for such specialist doctors," he added.

"Government spends so much on our salaries and education. The Government should create posts for these specialities. If some departments do not have any posts in District/Sub-District hospitals, then post such doctors in medical colleges. Other specialities are very much required even at the District/Sub-District levels. So, we have requested the Government to create the posts for such doctors to utilise their postgraduate medical education," he further mentioned.

Dr. Pareek further highlighted that while there are no such posts for specialist doctors, in States like West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh etc. vacancies come up for such posts. "Ultimately, the people in Rajasthan are getting deprived. Doctors are already there and the State is already paying them salaries. But the Government should create posts to utilise their skills. Otherwise, their talent is getting wasted," he said.

However, commenting on the matter, a senior health department official told the Times of India that these specialties are not required in district hospitals, satellite hospitals and other such hospitals as they are managing without these specialities. The official said, "They are required in medical colleges for teaching purposes and not in hospitals in districts."

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