GUWAHATI: With the Assam government accepting the retirement applications of 39 doctors together, questions have been raised on the number of posts that are now vacant in the medical college hospitals of the State.
Concerned citizens have raised eyebrows at the senior medical fraternity seeking voluntary retirement, while new medical college hospitals are being constructed in Assam.
On November 25, the Governor of Assam approved the voluntary retirement of the doctors, six of whom had reportedly cited medical grounds and the remaining 33 have handed their resignations. Of them, 7 are from the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), 11 from Assam Medical College and Hospital, 10 from Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, one from Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital, 6 from Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, and four from the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College in Barpeta.
While questions have been raised at such a large number of the senior medical professionals retiring together from government service, Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta clarified that most of the doctors had applied for the retirement scheme much earlier.
"39 doctors seeking Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) in a span of seven years is not an issue of much concern. Most doctors practice in private while still in the government job and when it becomes known, they submit for VRS. They have dedicated their service legally to the State for the past 20 years or more and we have not found any anomalies in their leaving us voluntarily and legally," the Minister said.
Mahanta added that while 39 doctors have chosen to leave, the State appointed around 300 doctors recently.
Superintendent of GMCH Abhijit Sarma has clarified that most of the doctors submitted their papers long back and their presence or absence does not affect the balance of the hospitals.
