Raise retirement age of doctors: IMA

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 26

The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Himachal chapter, has welcomed the decision of opening of three medical colleges in Chamba, Nahan and Hamirpur, telemedicine project for tribal and remote areas of Lahaul-Spiti and Dodra Kawar and burn units in each district hospital.

They urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to raise the retirement age of senior professors of the IGMC Shimla and government medical college in Tanda to make up for the shortage of professors to make these three medical colleges functional in the state.

Dr Anil Ohri, general secretary of IMA, said: “We welcome all health initiatives taken by the government. But since three colleges will need 150 teachers and the fact that 40 professors will retire shortly, the state will face shortage of teachers if the retirement age is not increased from 62 to 65 years.”

Members of the faculty association of the IGMC said the CM mentioned that each proposed medical college would get Rs 189 crore, but he did not provide a timeline as to when would they start functioning.

Besides, shortage of teachers would be felt after the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences comes up in Bilaspur, they said.

IMA member said the doctors have welcomed the promise made in the Budget, saying that a super specialty block for tertiary-care services at IGMC worth Rs 150 crore would strengthen the services in the state.

The pilot Tele-Medicine project in PPP mode to be launched in regional hospital Keylong, Kaza, 25 CHCs in Sirmaur and Chamba districts and CHC Dodra-Kawar would give timely, treatment at different locations from specialists from IGMC, AIIMS and the like, said members of the HP medical Officers’ Association.

HPMOA and IMA welcomed the filling up of 200 posts of doctor and 500 posts of para-medical staff in state hospitals. The government had been talking about it in the past, but the posts were still vacant over the years as the bureaucracy feels the other way, they said.

The doctors hailed the setting up of the blood sugar testing facility at the health sub-centre level and the geriatric wards to be started in all district hospitals as it would help the elderly patients.

The Mukhya Mantri State Healthcare Scheme to be launched for treatment of basic and critical ailments of Ekal Naaris and senior citizens above 80 years was also welcomed.