The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association (TNGDA) has threatened to launch an agitation if more doctors and staff are not recruited for the Government Medical College in Sivaganga.
It has appealed to the Health Secretary to convene a meeting with the forum representatives to take stock of the ground realities at the college.
The association criticised the Directorate of Medical Education for not taking steps to fill posts of nurses, pharmacists, clerks, laboratory technicians, hospital and sanitary workers even though the Chief Minister sanctioned the posts and a Government Order was issued to that effect last March.
K. Senthil, president, TNGDA, who chaired a meeting of the association’s State executive committee here on Saturday, told reporters that the government should take urgent steps to set right the anomalies prevailing at the Sivaganga college.
“We regret the poor preparation made by officials for the recent Medical Council of India (MCI) inspection. In many departments, the doctors themselves sweep their rooms and there are no workers to clean even the toilets. If there is a court stay on recruitment, take steps to fill posts by recruiting people from other directorates or by temporary appointments,” he said.
He condemned the “callous way” in which doctors were treated on the eve of MCI inspection.
Another demand of the association was to entrust the money transfer work of Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Assistance Scheme to the Social Welfare Department. Doctors in Primary Health Centres and at the block level had complained to the TNGDA that they were doing more of administrative work than medical practice, he said.
Dr. Senthil said that they made a representation to relieve doctors from supervising the cash assistance disbursal work by appointing a computer operator and administrative officer at every block for this scheme.
“The block medical officers are under immense pressure as they have to coordinate with banks and open new accounts for beneficiaries. It will be better if the Social Welfare Department handles it and allow the doctors to focus on providing medical care,” he added.
A resolution was also passed thanking the Chief Minister for issuing interim orders to effect promotions which were stagnant for the past two years.
P. Balakrishnan, State secretary and association representatives from all districts attended the meeting.
