Director of Medical Education post vacant amid admission rush, doctors raise concerns

Chennai: At a time when medical, dental, and paramedical admissions are in full swing, the key position of Director of Medical Education (DME) in Tamil Nadu remains vacant.

The post became vacant after former DME Dr J Sangumani retired on June 30. Since then, Dr E Theranirajan, who already looks after medical education, hospitals, and dispensaries, was asked to take additional charge as DME.

He was also made the secretary of the selection committee that oversees medical, dental, nursing, and other paramedical admissions until the government appointed Dr Lokanayaki, former special officer at the Government Medical College in Krishnagiri, as the new selection committee secretary on August 6.

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Even after this, the DME post itself continues to remain vacant, and the delay period is increasing. A source within the health department said the panel for promotion to DME is ready, but the decision is still pending.

While other top-level vacancies were filled on August 6 after being vacant for one month, which includes the appointment of new directors for Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) and Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS), and also deans for several government medical colleges.

Meanwhile, Doctors’ associations have expressed disappointment and objections, arguing that one person cannot be expected to handle so many major roles at once.

The Tamil Nadu Govt Doctors' Association stated that the state's failure to conduct counselling for transfers and promotions has led to the ‘collapse' of the healthcare system and widespread vacancies in govt medical colleges and hospitals. Promotions and transfers for 2023 were completed by March this year, and lists for two more years are still pending, said the association, as reported by TOI.

In this regard, Service and Post Graduate Doctors' Association organising secretary Dr A Ramalingam asked, "The panel is ready. There are no court cases either. So, why is there a delay?"

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