Kerala: Fear of Academic Crisis as 50 doctors, 4 principals set to retire

Thiruvananthapuram: With 50 doctors and 4 principals retiring from the government medical colleges in the state, the situation in the hospitals is going to turn grave with the following academic session. Most of the retirees are specialists, therefore functioning of several hospital departments is likely to get affected in a big way. With no principals appointed or junior doctor promotions in the pipeline, the fresh appointments will take another three or four months to come about.

Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital alone will have 17 doctors going home in April-May.According to regulations MCH Government doctor retirements take place in April/May.

"The retirements will lead to many vacancies in the medical colleges. The department level promotion committees are yet to take any steps to promote junior doctors to fill up the posts falling vacant. Hence, the replacement of the principals will also take time," said Dr K Mohanan Retired Principal Manjeri Medical College.

Principals of medical colleges in Kozhikode, Alappuzha and Parippally are also retiring and sources say that fresh appointments by the Promotion Committees will take a four month time duration.

"Once the promotion committees finalizes the names of the new principals, the list is send to the PSC for clearance.After that is obtained, it is send for government clearance. The entire procedure usually takes a minimum of three months," said Dr Mohanan, also Former President, Kerala Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA).

However, with the MCI inspection due in government medical colleges, ahead of the commencement of the next academic session, vacancies need to be filled up without further delay, as that would affect course registrations, reports the TOI.