Five-pronged plan to resolve vacancy crisis at medical colleges

DMER is now on a ‘recruitment overdrive’ and hopes to fill 90 per cent posts in six months. A significant move in this respect is the commencement of walk-in interviews instead of the time-consuming recruitment process under the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).

Manisha Mhaiskar, state secretary of medical education and drugs, said, “Professors, assistant professors and lecturers will now be directly appointed through interviews. We will do away with MPSC. The advertisements for this will begin by July end or first week of August. While 100 per cent seats cannot be filled immediately, we hope to reach at least 90 per cent of recruitment.”

Another important move by DMER in retaining professors will be an increase in the retirement age of lecturers, professors and assistant professors from 62 to 63. This year, around 30 professors of the state will be retained by increasing the retirement age.

On June 10, following a recommendation by the Medical Council of India (MCI), the union health ministry withdrew 500 medical seats from eight government colleges in Solapur, Sangli, Dhule, Kolhapur, Yavatmal, Nanded, Ambajogai and Latur, which were permitted last year on condition of an increase in staff and improvement in infrastructure. Similar withdrawal was done for 1,175 seats in private colleges.

A delegation from the state had then approached the health ministry in June for an extension to solve the vacancy issue. At present, the intake in state-run medical colleges is back to 2,560 medical seats. However, according to data collected by the Indian Express, of the 2,089 posts of lecturers, professors and assistant professors in state-run medical colleges, there is a significant vacancy of 1,098 posts.

Moreover, MCI also noted lapses in infrastructure in terms of smaller classrooms, insufficient hostel accommodation and lack of waiting rooms for girls. According to Mhaiskar, a budget provision of Rs 100 crore has been done to improve the infrastructure in medical colleges.

While the state government has rolled up its sleeves to start a recruitment drive, Dr Shivkumar Utture, executive committee member of Maharashtra Medical Council, state arm of MCI, said these were short-term measures. “Teachers are not willing to join full-time government jobs because the pay-scale is less. Several teachers have not been regularised by the government and have quit jobs owing to this. Unless pay is not increased, we doubt teachers will even attend the walk-in interviews,” Utture said.

Another issue with teachers is the frequent transfers they face during their tenure. According to Utture, lecturers prefer to quit their jobs and conduct private practice to avoid transfers. The DMER has now proposed to have divisional allotment for such teachers, the approval of which is awaited in the next cabinet meeting.

“Lecturers will be allowed to work in their own city. This will discourage them from quitting from their posts. The plan is in the pipeline and we hope it will be approved,” Mhaiskar said.

According to Dr Kishor Taori, president at MMC, fresh inspections will be carried out by the MCI next year to gauge whether the medical education department has fulfilled all requirements laid down by the MCI. “This time, an extension was granted. But MCI will not be so lenient next time, if the condition of medical colleges remains the same. The MCI has strongly recommend the withdrawal of 500 seats,” Taori said.
tabassum.barnagarwala@expressindia.com