Dharamsala News/Doctors of Himachal request CM to remove difficulties

Dharamsala, November 24, 2013: Medical Officer’s Association in Himachal brought to the notice of Chief Minister, the deteriorating health services in State. It said that it is due to some wrong policies of higher authorities.  Dr. Sant Lal Sharma President and Dr Jiwa Nand Chauhan Secretary of HMOA in their letter which was submitted to CM at Kangra on Sunday, have indicated that few decision taken in the health department are responsible for this situation.
The quota of the regular Medical Officers for Post graduation seats had been reduced from 90% to 66% thus causing frustration irregular candidates. Out of 180 Post graduation seats , 90 seats (50%) goes to all India and out of remaining 90 seats only 60 seats (including clinical and Para clinical seats) are available for those Medical officers who are serving the state of Himachal Pradesh where as those who are directly competing for Post graduation seats have a choice of 120 seats and that’s why they are not keen to join the services in Himachal Pradesh. HMOA requested  the Govt. that Post graduation seats for regular Medical officers should be increased to at least 75-80%,so that the after completing the MBBS the freshly passed out can join the service to improve the health services in Himachal Pradesh.
Dr. Sant lal Sharma  said ,”we have  request the Chief Minister that decision to increase the retirement age of the teachers in the Medical colleges from 58 years to 62 years, by the the previous BJP Govt. should be reviewed because further promotion avenues for young doctors are stopped and the young talented doctors are leaving the state.”  He said that due to this wrong decision the unnecessary financial burden is also put on the Govt. because the freshly appointed Assistant Professor will get 60000 less than the Professor who has to retire at suppuration.
Dr. Sant Lal Sharma said, “A viscous cycle has developed due to wrong policy that after completion of MBBS the Doctor prepare for postgraduate test as out of 180 seats , 120 seats are available for Direct candidate  and only 60 seats are available for those who  are giving services to the people of Himachal Pradesh. It must be Changed.”
Dr Jiwa Nand Chauhan  said , “Promotion in the Health department are either delayed or juniors are being promoted causing humiliation to the seniors as there are lot of discrepancy in the seniority list of BMO list, where seniority of Public Service commission is totally ignored.” He said that The Senior Medical Officers which include Joint Director , Deputy Director and CMO are being forced to worker under these OSD’s as they are being made State training program officer, although they have to be attached with the Joint Director, Deputy Director.
HMOA requested the CM of Himachal, Vir Bhadra Singh that He should personally look into the matter and direct the authorities to improve the policies and increase the incentive to the Medical Officers, so that the Doctor will happily join   services in the Himachal Pradesh to improve the Health Services in the state.