IMS creation to get a boost after NWG submits report to IMA

Nagpur: The long pending demand for creation of the Indian Medical Services (IMS) on the lines of IAS and IPS will get a boost after the National Working Group (NWG) submitted its report recently. Existed during British era, the IMA served during two World Wars and continued its services till India’s independence in 1947. The demand for its creation gained ground after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic across the globe.
The NWG, led by senior academician Dr Vedprakash Mishra, has handed over the report to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr Ranjan Sharma. In 2017, the IMA had constituted a study group under Dr Mishra for making analytical recommendations on IMS’ rejuvenation.
The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) recently wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding IMS for health care professionals in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Stressing on the need for improving India’s health care infrastructure, the federation said IMS was the need of the hour as medicos from various specialities can devise effective strategies for controlling such deadly diseases in the future.
The NWG recommended that the IMS would be in the form of a cadre, specialized in character for the dispensation of health care services, including those in the domain of public health, except medical education, as per the All India Services Act, 1951. The service conditions would be as prescribed by the Union Ministry of Personnel and Training in tune with those applicable to other cadres like IAS, IPS and IFS.
Explaining the operation of the IMS, the NWG said it would be akin to and on par with those as applicable to IAS with reference to terms, service conditions, postings, modality of recruitment, and allotment of cadre. “The entry would be exclusively for those possessing minimum MBBS qualification from a recognized medical college and examining university.
“IMS’ core scope is to create a specialized breed of administrators who would undertake better management of health care system, including public health with ease, elegance and desired innovation in larger public interest as a part of cadre under All India Civil Services,” Dr Mishra told TOI.
The formation of such health cadre was first recommended by the Health Survey and Planning Committee in its report in 1961, but nothing progressed after that.