Over 40 per cent faculty Vacancies haunt GMCs in Punjab

Patiala: In a major setback to Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Amritsar and Patiala, nearly 40 per cent of the sanctioned posts of the medical teachers remain empty, wherein, super-speciality branches has the highest number of vacant posts.

According to a recent media report in The Tribune, the faculty of GMC Patiala and Amritsar have alleged that the cause behind the shortage of faculty prevails, as the State Government has overlooked an advisory of time-bound promotion and de-linking the designation from pay scale issued by the Central Government after deliberating the same with the Medical Council of India (MCI).

Resultantly, the strength of teaching faculty diminished despite an increase in the number of government medical colleges in the country. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in a March month's Medical Colleges’ Assessment Report, MCI had pointed out the deficiencies stating that Patiala and Amritsar GMCs are facing 23 and 16 per cent faculty shortage, respectively, the state is on the verge of losing 100 MBBS seats.

A couple of years ago, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) had issued an advisory to Financial Secretaries of medical education of Punjab for time-bound promotion under its medical education policy. However, the Punjab State Medical & Dental Teachers Association (PSMDTA) has alleged that the state Government failure to grant time-bound promotion to medical teachers has led to a decline in the number of faculty.