Criticism mounts over transfer to redeploy 400-odd Junior Resident posts in T.N. govt. medical faculties

Doctors’ associations have warned that the Tamil Nadu Health Department’s plan to redeploy 400-odd junior resident (JR) posts throughout authorities medical faculties within the State may adversely have an effect on affected person care and improve the workload for current employees.

Organisations together with the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) and Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association (TNMOA) have expressed sturdy opposition to the transfer.

TNMOA’s secretary M. Akilan, in an announcement, stated this transfer, beneath the pretext of making new postgraduate (PG) seats, poses a severe risk to healthcare supply in authorities medical establishments. Redeploying current manpower from core departments corresponding to General Medicine, General Surgery, and different medical specialities will inevitably weaken affected person care providers.

TNGDA president Ok. Senthil stated an consciousness programme towards this resolution might be held on November 10, adopted by a State-wide protest the subsequent day. “The division plans to redeploy JR posts predominantly from the 11 new medical faculties, and some others corresponding to Karur and Pudukottai. The redeployment is for varied causes, together with to satisfy manpower wants at sure establishments. The division can’t redeploy JRs with out factoring in affected person care,” he stated.

Describing the transfer as “absurd and hasty”, he stated the redeployment is being thought-about even earlier than making use of for brand spanking new postgraduate programs, prone to be submitted solely subsequent yr. “The division appears to have misinterpreted National Medical Commission (NMC) norms that there isn’t any want for a separate cadre of JRs when put up graduates can be found within the establishment. If applied now, we’ll stand the danger of de-recognition for undergraduate programs, as departments will fall in need of JRs, and NMC inspections will pay attention to the deficiencies,” he added.

‘Will have an effect on affected person care’

Dr. Akilan added that as an alternative of strengthening the general public well being system, this train will scale back the out there workforce, improve the burden on current employees, and compromise the standard of care offered to lakhs of sufferers who rely on authorities hospitals on daily basis.

If the federal government’s goal is to broaden PG medical schooling, new posts with recent monetary sanction ought to be created. Redeployment of current posts is just not growth, it’s mere redistribution. While round 400 docs might straight face displacement resulting from this transfer, the bigger and extra alarming consequence is the erosion of medical providers throughout authorities hospitals that may have an effect on the general public, he stated.

TNMOA urged the State authorities to instantly withdraw the order on JR redeployment and as an alternative sanction new posts with applicable funds allocation for the proposed PG seats within the 11 new medical faculties.

But this doesn’t finish with JR posts alone. “There is one other round from the federal government looking for particulars of surplus posts of docs together with professors to be surrendered for the aim of redesignation,” Dr. Senthil stated.