Retirement age for doctors ikely to be extended

BHUBANESWAR: Health and Family Welfare Minister Prasanna Acharya on Saturday told the Assembly that a proposal for extending the retirement age of doctors is under active consideration of the  Government. To a calling attention notice of RC Chaupatnaik and PK Mallick, the Minister said the Government was fully aware of the large number of vacancies in doctor posts and shortage of teaching faculties in the three medical colleges. The Health Department has submitted a proposal to the Government for extension of the retirement age of doctors. The matter is being examined by the General Administration and the Finance departments. The Government has already extended the retirement age of doctors to 60 years and if any of the doctors after his/her retirement desires to continue in service, the Government is ready to retain their services with a fixed honorarium. Responding to the request of Chaupatnaik to extend the retirement age of Government doctors to 65 years, the Minister said the University Grants Commission (UGC) allowed Government doctors to work till the age of 65 years while the MCI approved till 70 years.  Extension of retirement age of one section of the employees will have a cascading effect on the State’s revenue as other sections of the employees are also making similar demand, the Minister said adding, the Government will take a considered view on the issue. Ruling party members Prabhat Ranjan Biswal, Chaupatnaik and Mallick  expressed concern over the shortage of faculties in the government medical colleges.  Biswal and Mallick apprehended that the MCI may abolish the six seats in the cardiothoracic department if the Government failed to fill up the post of professor in time. Allaying their fears, the Minister said process had been initiated to fill up the vacant posts of faculties in the three medical colleges by giving promotion to eligible doctors.  As per MCI guideline, there are required number of faculties in the Institute of Cardio Vascular Science. While the professor of cardiology is going to retire next month, the cardiothoracic professor will retire in June.  The Minister further said  the Government may retain the services of retired professors and associated professors by giving them suitable designation. Asserting that vacancies in doctor posts is an all-India phenomenon, the Minister said about 50 per cent of doctor posts are lying vacant in the country.