Haryana: 15 doctors deputed for impending MCI visit at BPS Medical College

Haryana : The Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College in Sonepat is up for an MCI inspection soon. Facing shortage of faculty staff and doctors, the Haryana government is reported to have transferred 15 Haryana Civil Service doctors on deputation. The transferred medical practitioners are to be shown as college faculty. Interestingly, the Additonal Chief Secretary (health) has acknowledged the act as a violation of rules in his own orders.

“It is intimated that bridging the deficiency in the faculty by posting HCMS doctors is violation of the MCI guidelines. Above doctors are being deputed for the last time,” ACS (health) Rajan Gupta wrote in his orders while transferring 15 doctors.

Facts reveal that fifteen doctors, including two senior medical officers and thirteen medical officers from Panipat, Yamunanagar,Jhajjar, Rohtak Bhiwani & Sonepat have been sent on a two month deputation to Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat.The college, one of the first girls institution in Haryana was started in 2012.

Knowing about the violation of norms and transferred faculty to the women’s college for the impending MCI inspection, Gupta wrote on the order, “It is requested to recruit faculty expeditiously,” Interestingly, the Health Minister is not aware of the order reports Indian Express.

The ACS (health) told the daily “I have directed the department that they better get regular recruitment done and this is the last time these doctors are being transferred.” When asked if the transfers were for the forthcoming MCI inspection Mr. Gupta said , “These doctors have been posted temporarily in the faculty so that it is of help as I have been told that the MCI team is coming.”

“If MCI finds there is no senior staff in the faculty, they will de-recognize the college. So there was no option but to show these doctors there in the faculty. At least we are making efforts to keep this college alive, ” said a senior health official.

The BPS Medical College has advertised for the posts of 11 professors, 18 associate professors, 19 assistant professors, 45 senior residents and 20 tutors, just two days ago. The expected MCI visit could happen anytime in December.

ACS (Medical Education and Research) Dhanpat Singh commenting on the recent transfer of doctors said, “I have not read the orders, but yes, we asked for some doctors from the Health Department. There is nothing illegal about it. There is shortage of doctors across the country.”

BPS college has a student strength of 400, with the first batch graduating in December. Private colleges have been condemned for doing the same and the MCI has gone ahead and ordered shut downs. It is to seen what happens in the case of government run institutions.