PGIMER admin faces allegations over select advertising of vacancies

Punjab: PGIMER is hit by yet another controversy, this time facing allegation of its own doctors (from different departments) over the issue of advertisements of several vacancies in the institute. The doctors have alleged that there are many vacant posts in the institute, however, the admin has only advertised for a select number of vacant posts. On the basis of which, they smell a rat in the closet.

On a fact basis, out of the close to 554 faculty posts lying vacant posts, only 303 positions have been filled as of today. Compare this with the recruitment ads of only 111 faculty posts in most of departments. The ad was given on April 23. Out of which 15 vacancies are confirmed for professors and 93 for assistant professors. Besides, there are 3 vacant posts for assistant professors in non-medical category.

One of the faculty members, who wished not to be named, said to HT, “In its advertisement for the faculty recruitment on April 23, no lateral entry posts of associate professors and additional professors were advertised. Also, among all the vacant posts (around 251), only ‘select’ posts have been advertised.”

He asked, “On one hand, the administration is crying over the increasing patient rush, and the demand of surgeries, while one the other hand, the vacant posts of senior medical professionals are not being filled, and doctors’ recruitments are being withheld.”

The faculty member further implied that there are few posts of psychiatry professor, pulmonary medicine and anaesthesia lying vacant for a long time now. However, this institute has not advertised for the posts in the three years, after these posts were sanctioned. The HOD’s on the other hands, have been communicating their requirements for the sanctioned posts. At the moment it seems these posts are being regulated under the influence of select people, is the implied allegation of the faculty member.

Regarding the neurosurgery department, there is a patient overload, and to tackle the situation, there are two sanctioned posts of a professor and an additional professor (1). Even though it has been sanctioned for long, it was only the professor’s post advertised in April.

When asked, Manju Wadwalkar, PGI public relation officer, said to HT, “I do not have any details about this.”