3 medical college principals resign citing sorry state of affairs

Lucknow: The BRD Medical College tragedy has brought to surface the poor working conditions in government medical colleges of the state, with principals of three other medical institutions willing to resign with immediate effect. Their reasons for resigning being cited as the “sorry state of affairs” in the state’s medical education department.

“Many more are contemplating quitting, citing lack of infrastructure and poor working condition in the department; which has not had a permanent director general in the past 23 years,” added a highly-placed source.

The state of Uttar Pradesh which boasts of 14 medical colleges has only 5 permanent principals. These principals are appointed in the states of, Saharanpur, Orai, Badaun, and Kanpur.

The national outrage that has erupted following the death of 30 children within 48 hours at BRD medical college, seems to have pressed the panic button in the medical fraternity, as well. The indicators are the three offers by principals to resign, prior to getting embroiled in a controversy similar to that at BRD medical college; leading the Principal, Dr. Rajiv Mishra to put in his papers. Interestingly, his successor is also merely holding an additional charge.

Principal N Sengar, Jhansi Medical College, Anand Swarup, Saharanpur Medical College and Saroj Singh the principal of Agra Medical College’ are the 3 heads who have expressed willingness to give up their posts. The reasons given by them for wanting to relieve themselves of this responsibility are: “favoritism in appointments” and the “shady state of affairs” in the medical education department.

“I have applied for the VRS. I cannot work under the present condition. Despite being the senior-most principal, I have been denied the opportunity to become the director-general, while juniors have been favored,” Dr Swarup told TOI on Friday.

“I don’t want to do the administrative job anymore,” said Dr Senger. In his case, the BRD tragedy is not what triggered off his desire to give up, as he had applied for a VRS on May 16, well before the disaster at BRD Medical College Hospital happened, on August 10. His desire to quit seems to be emanating from his frustration with poor departmental functioning.

"Adhocism runs from top to bottom in the medical education department. There has been no permanent appointment to the DGME post for the past 23 years," added a senior doctor at the KG Medical University, Lucknow.

The department in the past years has been headed by 12 officiating DGs, including the present DGME KK Gupta. Dr Gupta was removed from his position in 2015 when complaints were lodged against him with the Lokayukta.