Tamil Nadu: SDPGA writes to health department; urging to defer the District Residency Programme for 2022-2023 postgraduate batch

Chennai: The Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association (SDPGA) wrote a letter to the health department, urging it to put off the implementation of the District Residency Programme for postgraduates of 2020-2023 batch.

The association stated that the since the postgraduates had to work consistently during all the three waves of Covid-19, they lost a lot in terms of academic programmes, routine clinical experiences and surgical skills due to the pandemic. The postgraduates have also been unable to finish their mandatory special posting.

Also Read:How NMC came to the rescue of PG doctors being denied stipend

Because of this, the association said that beginning the three-month District Residency Programme would limit their clinical and surgical hands-on experience and academic programmes.

"The service postgraduates are already having enough experience in national health programmes and promotive, preventive and rehabilitation services under the umbrella of NHM," observed the letter.

The association added that a notification concerning this was also by the presently dissolved, Medical Commission of India, whereas the replaced new agency, National Medical Commission did not issue any notification regarding the programme for the batch.

The association in its letter also mentioned a proposal of the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) as reference, which dealt with the implementation of the District Residency Programme for PGs of 2020-2023 batch.

As per a media report in the Hindu, the DME in its order dated 3rd February, 2022 had asked the deans of government medical colleges to establish a committee under the academic cell to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the residency programme. The medicos are required to choose three options of their choice from a given list of district/taluk hospitals. The deans were directed to get the willingness from each postgraduate to work in the district headquarters hospital.

A copy of the letter was also attached to the Director of Medical Education in Chenani.

The Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association (SDPGA) is a professional body formed for doctors who are involved in government services in Tamil Nadu including service postgraduates and it states its objectives as "to upgrade the health care delivery system of Tamilnadu Government by addressing the welfare of both the service doctors and the patients since both are two sides of the same coin."

Also Read:AACCC notifies on Seat Surrender Process For AYUSH PG admissions 2021, details