A recent order to post non-service postgraduates as assistant surgeons in government hospitals has raised concern among some government service doctors.

According to the Tamil Nadu state health department, the non-service postgraduates are obliged to work in government hospitals after completion of their postgraduate degree for certain period given in the bond. This order was posted by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) and Research on temporary terms to fulfill the bond obligations of the non-service postgraduates. They were appointed with instructions to work for a minimum of one year. However, this decision received backlash from several organizations.

The Democratic Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association strongly opposed this decision to post non-service postgraduates in regular posts without conducting counseling for service postgraduates first who are available.

The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers’ Association (TNMOA) stated that they had already raised concerns about posting non-service postgraduates before service doctors and postgraduates. The TNMOA stated that this will impede the opportunities of several service doctors who are waiting to enter the DME institutions and also the service postgraduates who will be finishing their postgraduate degree in 6 months.

The DME has assured that they will withdraw this order, but appointment orders have been posted and the appointed doctors have already started joining the posts.

The associations have demanded to withdraw the posting order issued to non-service postgraduates and conduct counseling for service doctors first. The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers’ Association has added that the service doctors would boycott hospital duties if the order was not withdrawn.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Shanjitha J Hussain/MSM)