Gandhi Hospital doctors on protest path

Doctors at Gandhi Hospital on Wednesday protested against the government’s proposed move to raise the retirement age for teaching doctors from 58 to 65 years.

The relay hunger strike, under the aegis of Telangana Government Doctors Association, at the hospital saw doctors boycott in-patient and out-patient services and attend to only emergency cases. The protesting doctors have argued that retirement age relaxation will delay promotions for associate and assistant professors.

On Sunday, the State cabinet cleared the proposal to raise the retirement age. The government has maintained that the move is aimed at retaining experienced staff in view of shortage due to retirement and to fulfil MCI norms for requisite number of professors in teaching hospitals.

“We have suggested that the government promote doctors eligible for promotions, which have been delayed for a long time. If necessary, services of professors who retire can be hired on contract basis. This has been done before,” said Dr. D. Ramesh, President for Gandhi’s TGDA unit.

A group of doctors also represented concerns to Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan. Gandhi Hospital doctors on protest have announced they would intensify their protest from June 2 by sitting on a fast unto death.

In Telangana, about five to seven professors retire every month, taking the count to over 60 per year. At present, there are as many as 1,000 doctors are professors in the 19 teaching hospitals across the State.

Meanwhile, the age extension for doctors in hospitals under the purview of Directorate of Medical Education is likely to fuel a similar demand from doctors working under the Directorate of Health and Vaidya Vidhana Parishad.

“Promotions for doctors working the other two wings of health administration also have been delayed. Across the wings, the government should implement career advance scheme or time-bound promotions. If the retirement age is being raised, it should also be done with the option of voluntary retirement service,” said Dr. R. Laluprasad, Treasurer for the State TGDA unit.

Responding to the protest by Gandhi Hospital doctors, Health Minister Dr. C. Laxma Reddy has called for talks on Thursday. Director of Medical Education, Dr. Ramesh Reddy said the government is already working to implement the career advancement scheme for teaching doctors and the file is under consideration.