Assam: 39 senior Govt doctors take voluntary retirement

As per various media accounts, initially, the governor, Prof Jagdish Mukhi had approved the proposal for the voluntary retirement for six doctors. However, later another notification was released, which stated that the governor has accepted the voluntary retirement of 33 other doctors, taking the total number to 39.

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The notification as quoted by Pratidintime read, "The Governor of Assam is pleased to accept the proposals of voluntary retirement of the following doctors of medical colleges of Assam under Rule F.R 56(c) of F.R and S.R."

Out of the doctors who took voluntary retirement, six had given medical issues as reason, whereas the remaining 33 handed over their resignation.

According to a media report in Guwahati plus, out of them, 7 are from the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), 11 from Assam Medical College and Hospital, 10 from Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, one from Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital, 6 from Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, and four from the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College in Barpeta.

Sentinel Assam reports that many of the doctors who took voluntary retirement have not been going to their duty for a long time.

However, many people have now raised questions over the new vacant posts in the medical college hospitals of the state, with many questioning the move as new medical colleges are being constructed in Assam at the same time.

When asked about the voluntary retirement of the doctors at the time of pandemic in the state, Health Minister Keshab Mahanta stated, "It's a routine affair. Some doctors take voluntary retirement. It will not affect the state health sector since we are appointing new doctors and promoting some."

Many have expressed their disagreements with such a large number of senior medical professionals retiring together. Clarifying that most of them had applied for the retirement scheme much earlier, the minister Mahanta told Guwahati plus, "39 doctors seeking Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) in a span of seven years is not an issue of much concern. Most doctors practice in private while still in the government job and when it becomes known, they submit for VRS. They have dedicated their service legally to the State for the past 20 years or more and we have not found any anomalies in their leaving us voluntarily and legally."

The minister also added that the state has also made new appointments of around 300 doctors recently, while 39 have chosen to retire.

On a similar note, Superintendent of GMCH Abhijit Sarma said that most of these doctors had submitted their paper long back, therefore their presence or absence would not affect the functioning of the hospitals.

The Sentinel Assam reports that few of the doctors who had applied for voluntary retirement were unsatisfied with the functioning of the medical colleges. Some doctors left to pursue private practice, while others retired on health grounds. However, as per sources, the present move does not augur well for the state health department.

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