Contractual teachers of govt medical colleges demand regularisation – Times of India

The teachers have submitted a memorandum to chief minister Naveen Patnaik here on Friday seeking fulfilment of their demands. More than 200 teachers are working in different government medical colleges of the state. They were appointed through a selection process conducted by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC).

Some of them, who were working in block, sub-division and district level hospitals, have been deputed in these medical colleges. “All of us have worked in the medical colleges as faculties for around 7-8 years including senior residency and assistant professor. We form the backbone of these hospitals,” said an assistant professor.

He said they have been put forth as faculties in the yearly ‘Medical Council of India’ review for so many years. “We have been involved in both treatment and teaching of under-graduate/post-graduate students for so many years and now we are also part of Covid-19 related activities like treatment of patients as well as management of Covid hospitals in different regions of the state,” he added.

Another assistant professor said the OPSC examination for permanent assistant professors in the government medical college has not been conducted during the last four years. “Many of us have crossed the age limit for attending the next OPSC examination which may be conducted in the future (uncertain). Some of us will cross the age limit in the near future,” he added.

He said there will be a shortage of senior faculties like associate professors and professors in future due to opening of many new government medical colleges and retirement of many senior faculties from almost all departments. “Even the new medical colleges require more faculties to either sustain or increase MBBS seats or open MD/MS seats in future according to MCI rules. Our 7-8 years of experience as teachers will be of great help in the medical education system,” he added.

The assistant professors in the memorandum stated that they had been appointed at a critical time when the state was in desperate need for recognition of MCI to increase the MBBS seats to meet the health care needs of the state and the seats in the colleges. “Due to non-conduct of OPSC examinations from time to time we lose our precious years and seniority and it will be very unfair to all of us if we have to compete with the freshers for the seats. It is a request to regularise our services,” they added.