40 docs denied nod for entrance exam

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 7

The future of 40 resident doctors is at stake as the state Health Department has denied them permission to take the All-India Medical Examination for super-specialty degree courses (DM and MCh) this year. The deadline to fill in the application form is April 30.

Members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said IGMC-Shimla, Government Medical College, Tanda, and four new colleges at Nerchowk, Hamirpur, Chamba and Nahan were already facing an acute shortage of super-specialists. The setting up of a super-specialty block at the IGMC and AIIMS at Bilaspur would further add to the shortage.

Sources said super-specialists from the IGMC had been sent to medical colleges being run on ad hoc basis on deputation.

The United Resident Doctors’ Association of India has also extended support to the demand of the RDAs, Himachal, that the government should adopt a liberal policy for its doctors so that they could pursue higher-level courses.

“Despite repeated requests to the Chief Minister and Health Minister for formulating a PG /DM policy for doctors allowing them to pursue higher courses, nothing has been done so far,” said Dr Ajay Jaryal, president, RDA, IGMC.

PrincipaI, IGMC, Dr Ravi Sharma said permission to take the entrance exam for DM and other courses was granted by the Health Department. Doctors, who fulfilled all conditions and completed four-five years of service in the state, were granted permission. The IGMC had no role in this, he added.

The applicants demanded that the government should relax the four-year service condition in view of a shortage of super-specialists in the state. Additional Chief Secretary, Health, RD Dhiman and Director, Health Services, Dr Ajay Gupta could not be contacted for their comment.