Nagpur: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar National Students Federation, an organization of medical students, has claimed the medical student who has done PhD after completion of MBBS degree cannot apply for the post of the Scientist E, F, G H, Director and DG of the Indian Council of Medical research (ICMR). Remarkably, a person completing PhD after traditional post graduation degree in science (MSc) can apply for the same posts.
“MBBS is considered equivalent to the MSc/Master level as per the academics are concerned. So, MBBS plus PhD holders must get an opportunity to become scientists in ICMR,” said Dr Siddhant Bharne of the federation.
ICMR has advertised several vacancies for scientists’ posts. The advertisement clearly states that the posts ae for MD/MS in medical field which means they are not accepting MBBS plus PhD.
“MSc with PhD is acceptable even though MSc degree holders are non-medicos,” said Dr Bharne adding that ICMR being a medical research institute, many doctors were willing to join after MBBS and PhD. Though MBBS is an undergraduate degree, medicos are allowed to go for PhD without doing post-graduation.
“Other scientific institutions like CSIR and government departments like DBT, DST consider MBBS and PhD eligible for all scientific positions even up to level of directors and DGs. Even ICMR Scientist requirements in 2007 and 2012 had included MBBS-PhD qualifications as eligible for all positions,” said Dr Bharne.
The current advertisement excludes them for the positions from Scientists E onwards. The federation has written to ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava and Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, both medical doctors, on this issue.
“We need more doctors in medical research. After MBBS, many who are interested in research complete PhD instead of going for MD or MS that are mainly for practising doctors,” said Dr Kamlesh Meshram. Notably, out of 27 institutes of the ICMR only nine directors are medical doctors (33%). Rest all are MSc-PhD.
ICMR is yet to reply to the federation but members who talked to the officials there on phone said that they were positive in making changes and consider applications from MBBS and PhD candidates for these posts. Official notification is still awaited.