MCI inspection reveals 40 percent posts vacant at Doon Medical College

Dehradun: Faculty recruitment at Government Doon Medical College and hospitals is at a surprising low with over 40% of posts of Associate Professors and Assistant professors lying vacant. Several departments like Pathology and Forensic Science have no professors at all.

A surprise inspection on Wednesday, by the Medical Council of India (MCI) officials also observed that 20% of senior and junior resident doctor positions were lying vacant, stated a senior doctor at the college, on condition of anonymity. He admitted to five departments including - pathology, forensic science, pharmacology, microbiology and community medicine having no professor recruitment at all.

Upgraded to the status of a Medical College from a district hospital, in January, 2015, by the MCI after several inspections, Doon started its first academic session in 2016. The student strength is currently at hundred and fifty for the first session.

The college is now looking for a 'letter of permission' from the MCI to initiate the second year MBBS study at the college, revealed a senior doctor. He attributed the MCI inspection to the same.

A hundred and eleven doctors are required to keep the college hospital going. To meet the MCI’s stipulated guideline at least 90 % of the positions need to be filled.

A spate of resignations have been submitted by doctors working in this medical institution and the reasons cited by doctors for it are untimely payments of salaries and the lack of a robust infrastructure.

The college administration admitted to steps being taken to overcome staff shortage.Talking to TOI, Dr Ashutosh Sayana, Director, Medical Education Department, said, "The MCI team was satisfied with the working of the medical college. We have informed them that interviews to hire faculty are being conducted. The team is likely to visit again."

The College Principal, Dr Pradeep Bharti Gupta said, "The inspectors from MCI appreciated the functioning of the medical college as it conducts at least 50 operations and has an efficient out-patient department."