PG doctors protest against walk in doctor appointments

Madurai: The 3rd day of the KAP Viswanathan Medical College’s Postgraduate students sit-in protest demanding cancellation of the doctors' appointments recently made by the state government through walk-in interviews, saw over 70 postgraduates blindfolding themselves with black ribbons to express their opposition to the recent MERB non-service doctor appointments.

The students alleged that the seniority civil medical list was not referred to prior to making these appointments. The doctors staging a demonstration outside Government Rajaji Hospital expressed their disappointment in not being able to serve the public.

One of the protestors felt that it was unfair that nongovernment doctors were directly designated assistant professor positions at both the government medical colleges and district headquarters hospital.

" None of the 69% communal reservation seats have been filled. The vacancies available are not transparent," he added.

He told The Hindu that the protest in full swing would continue. Individual petitions by 200 200 members would be sent to the Chief Minister and Governor, listing their demands. On Thursday, the doctors would take out a procession from Panagal Road to Tamukkam Grounds through Collector’s office.

A human chain would be formed on Friday, Dr. Kamalesh added.

60 PG doctors have raised a voice of protest demanding priority to be given to PG doctors who have been in service in rural areas.Till now priority was being given to Government Medical College's PG students for doctor appointments, through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB), reports TOI.

"While this was common to all, many PG students from the private medical colleges with no hands-on experience and no rural service have grabbed jobs in government medical college and hospitals," said a PG student, Dr R Ravi Kumar.

Approximately, 485 doctors were appointed through the state government’s MRB walk-in interviews. The state government’s appointment initiative followed the High Court’s reprimand on increasing fever cases being reported this year. The SC admonishment prompted the state authorities to fill vacant posts in various government hospitals and primary health centers.

Common walk-in interview with both private and government college doctors have ended the priority given to PG students, who come after serving in a government hospital, the doctor added.