Gujarat: 57 appointee doctors refuse to take jobs in GMERS medical colleges on contract

This comes as a major blow for the State.

In the month of August this year, there were around 349 vacancies for class-I and II medical teachers at eight colleges of GMERS, and 147 candidates were given appointments in September. However, out of them, only 90 accepted the job appointments with the rest 57 doctors and tutors refusing to take it. While only 66 out of the 90 who had accepted the appointments joined by October 8, and the rest of them have asked for more time, to join at a later period.

Commenting on the time given for candidates to join at a later time this year, GMERS CEO Dr Bipin Nayak stated that they allowed the candidates to join late due to the need for more professionals to work at the hospitals.

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A similar trend was also seen during the appointments made in 2020, however, the number of candidates who refused to accept the appointments was comparatively less. In 2020, there were 309 vacancies during recruitment and around 98 candidates were given the appointment orders. Out of the 98, 56 accepted the job as medical teachers with the rest 42, rejecting the appointments on a contractual basis.

Recently, a new system was brought by the state government where the candidates were allowed to appear for interviews for direct recruitment at posts at the medical colleges they choose and the candidates had rejected the jobs in spite of such an order. However, the problem reportedly is the lack of job security, leaves, and other benefits. Many of them have rejected the contractual appointments under the new system because the disadvantages overpower the experiences they might be able to make as regular appointees, reports Ahmedabad Mirror.

While detailing the issues faced by the doctors, a senior official from a GMERS hospital stated, "Two regular doctors of the rank of Assistant Professors received appointment orders but the uncertainty over contract renewal after 11 months dissuaded them from accepting the contractual appointment."

Dr. Hiren Prajapati, president of GMERS Medical Teachers Association also told the daily about the new hiring system, "The 11-month contractual hiring strips doctors of all professional dignity, leaving appointees in doubt over whether their contracts will be renewed or not"

Dr. Rajnish Patel, president of Gujarat Medical Teachers Association said that there is a lack of new doctors in the cadre due to the present 11-month contractual hiring system, adding that the adverse effects of this policy would be seen in the coming decade since there won't be enough doctors with teaching experience who would be eligible be promoted to the post of Associate Professors and Professors.

Ahmedabad Mirror reports that the GMERS officials did not give any comments on the low recruitments of just 25% this year.

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