Kerala: Junior Medical Faculty vehemently oppose increase in Faculty retirement age

Thiruvanathapuram: The Kerala government's decision to raise pension age from 60 to 62 has been vehemently opposed by the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA ) as it would adversely affect junior doctor promotions. According to the Association, the government has gone ahead alone on this decision without consulting doctor organizations.The association has called for immediate withdrawal of this decision. The association has threatened a major agitation if the government does not go back on its decision.

The Association also reminded the KGMCTA of its statement earlier, of not raising pension age after the last increase from 55 to 60 in 2009. "The decision is going to spoil the promotion chances of junior faculty and also appointments at the entry grade level," said Dr Kavitha Ravi, KGMCTA state president. The association reiterated that the increase would take away the confidence of young entrants looking for a career in the government medical education sector.

However, the government is anxious that going back on this decision would result in MCI de recognizing medical colleges for the paucity of teaching faculty. The major threat coming from a shortage of associate professors and lack of infrastructure facilities.

Deccan Chronicle reports that the Association reminded the government that the standard of healthcare and medical education was high in Kerala as compared to other states, where retirement age was higher. It, therefore, felt that there was no need to follow in the footsteps of other states when it came to retirement age policy. It demanded that consultations be held with representatives of medical college doctors.

A meeting at Thrissur to constitute the Kerala Medicos Joint Action Council will be held in Thrissur on Friday to discuss issues including retirement age increase, house surgeons, postgraduates, PSC rank holders, new appointments, and bond issue.

MBBS students and junior doctors are expected to participate. Meanwhile, Kerala Medical PG Doctors Association has also risen in opposition to increase in pension age from 60 to 62.

Every year sees 3,500 MBBS doctors and 1,500 PG doctors come out of medical colleges and an increase in pension age will affect their job prospects said KPMGA.

The decision has already been a tremendous set back for those awaiting appointment in health service based on the 2014 PSC list.
The loss of MCI recognition due to the raised pension age would occur because of the shortage of assistant professors. Calling the decision "unscientific and anti-youth" the KPMGA called for its immediate withdrawal reports Deccan Chronicle.

The association threatened to launch a major agitation if the government failed to revert its decision.