Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 10: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad, today expressed concern over the failure of the Jammu and Kashmir Government to overcome the shortage of faculty members in the Medical College and take benefit of increase in cap on MBBS seats. However, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah said that increasing retirement age of faculty members was a complex issue and its pros and cons in the context of other State Government employees have to be thoroughly discussed before arriving at any decision.
Addressing a large gathering after laying foundation stone of Sant Manjit Singh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at Jeevan Nagar along with Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah this morning, Mr Azad said, “as shortage of faculties in the Medical Colleges in the Government sector was increasing across the country my Ministry after thorough discussion enhanced the retirement age limit of teaching faculty in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and other Central Medical Institutions”, adding “two years back we increased the retirement age from 65 to 70 years”.
“As this helped in maintaining the strength of the faculty members, I suggested this formula to almost all the States across the country as inadequate faculties can lead to de-recognition by the Medical Council of India. Almost all the private colleges in the country have adopted this formula but unfortunately in Jammu and Kashmir there is no improvement in the situation and shortage of faculty members continue to persist in all the Government run medical colleges”, Mr Azad said.
Stating that the Medical Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir have been running because of intercession otherwise all of them will be rejected by the MCI, Mr Azad said, “I had asked new Minister for Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din to keep increasing retirement age of faculty on top most priority as this is the only way to maintain faculties intact in State run institutions”, adding “as Chief Ministers of 60% states of the country have adhered to my advice and increased the retirement age of faculty members in Medical College I request Omar Abdullah to consider this as at present there is no shortage of faculties in Medical Colleges of other states of the country”.
Pointing towards the Super Specialty Hospital, Jammu, the Union Minister said, “the building is ready but the State is still grappling with faculties issue”.
Disclosing that Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has also increased the cap on MBBS seats intake in the Medical Colleges from 100 to 150 by changing the Medical Council Act and planning to further increase the same to 250 seats, Mr Azad said, “Jammu and Kashmir has also failed to take benefit of this relaxation and during recent review it came to fore that this is the only State in the country which has not availed the benefit till date”.
He also presented details of the new initiatives taken by his Ministry during the last three years and a half to upgrade health facilities in the country and referred to the amendments made to the Medical Council Act to encourage growth of private sector in the medical field. “Our special focus in this regard is on Jammu and Kashmir, UP, Bihar and Odisha”, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah admitted that Medical Colleges in J&K have been reeling under faculty shortage problem. “Minister for Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din moved a proposal for raising the retirement age of faculty members from 58 to 60 during the last Cabinet meeting but its pros and cons have to be discussed as all the Government employees have been raising this demand for the past quite long time”, he said, adding “we are seriously considering this issue as raising retirement age is imperative for smooth functioning of the Medical Colleges”.
“I have also to see that functioning of other departments don’t get crippled while taking care of Medical Colleges”, he said, adding “discussion on this issue is going on and appropriate decision will be taken in due course of time”.
Stating that various initiatives had been taken to meet the demand, he said, “it is unfortunate that even doctors who have got their degrees on basis of reservations do not want to work in remote areas. It has been observed that even doctors obtaining medical degrees under special categories and dispensations shirk to work in the areas and for the people they were given concessions in trainings,” Omar said, adding “culture of private practice was also growing in the State and needs to be checked”.
“I want to sit with Azad and discuss this malady of private practice. If it doesn’t exist in the institutions like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), why is it happening here?” he asked.
It is easy to build buildings and other required infrastructure in villages and difficult areas but placing of manpower to run institutions especially those in health and education sectors has been the concern in Jammu and Kashmir all along”, he said, adding “unless a good hospital equipped with necessary equipment is provided with necessary paraphernalia, doctors and specialists, its outcome and benefits to the people will not be up to the mark”.
Both Mr Azad and Mr Omar conveyed congratulations to the management of the Sant Manjit Singh Trust for taking a pious initiative of developing a Medical Institute and Research Centre and hoped that it would prove highly beneficial both for rendering modern health services to the people and producing medical graduates of high quality and calibre.
Earlier, Minister for Housing and Horticulture Raman Bhalla, who is also MLA of the area, lauded the initiative taken by Sant Manjit Singh Trust to establish Medical College and Hospital, adding “an engineering college is already being run by the Trust. The educational institutions and hospitals extend benefits to entire society rendering most important service to the people”. He said that growth of these institutions in private sector indicates the positive trend in a vibrant society.
Mahant Manjit Singh presented vote of thanks while as former Minister Rangil Singh welcomed the dignitaries. Sudershan Singh Wazir conducted the proceedings of the programme.
Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, former Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma, Member Parliament Ch Lal Singh, Ministers, Legislators, former Ministers and senior citizens were present on the occasion.
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