Appointment of an IAS officer as Director, RIMS
- What to do now ? -

Dr Khomdon Lisam *

RIMS - Regional Institute of Medical Science, Imphal in January 2015 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

I am quite surprised when a news headline entitled "Ministry na thamlakliba thajaba adumak thabakta onthokkani : R K Dinesh " appeared in the Manipuri newspaper the "Poknapham" dated 5th April,2017. As a senior IAS officer, RK, Dinesh may not be happy and in a dilemma with his new posting by the Union Health Ministry.

He may be aware that there is already a war between the Union Health Ministry and the MCI. At this juncture, his posting may lead to a series of chain reactions in the Indian context. I feel that this posting will damage his reputation and prestige as a civil servant.

He may be aware that he does not fulfil the eligibility criteria laid down by MCI for the post of the Director of a Medical College. He also must be aware that his posting as the Director of RIMS may lead to de-recognition of RIMS by the MCI.

He must also be aware that the transfer and posting of IAS officers is usually done by the Department of Personnel, Government of India. He may also be aware that his posting as a Director of RIMS may ignite unnecessarily the wrath of the medical fraternity in Manipur.

He said that the Heads of Departments of RIMS extended a warm welcome to him when he joins as the Director of RIMS. The Heads of Departments of RIMS must have agreed to extend a warm welcome to him out of courtesy though they do not accept him as a director. I understand that it is not the fault of Mr RK Dinesh IAS for his posting as the Director of RIMS.

He is used as a sacrificial lamb in the ongoing war between the Union Health Ministry and the MCI since 2008 till date. The war of words between the Union Health Ministry and the MCI hots up recently. The Ministry claimed that the MCI had become "a law unto itself'' and MCI is one-sided and indulges in favouritism.

The Union Health Ministry charged the MCI of rampant corruption. The Union Health Ministry prepared a bill namely "the National Medical Commission Bill, 2016" with an objective to create a world-class medical education system in India, to dissolve Medical Council of India and repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.

I believe in the honesty, integrity and good intention of Mr. R.K. Dinesh IAS. He should not allow himself to be used in the ongoing war by the Union Health Ministry as an experimental specimen.

In this connection, I may be allowed to suggest the following actions in the best interest of RIMS-

(1) Mr RK Dinesh, IAS may write a letter to the Union Health Ministry whether his posting will lead to temporary de-recognition of the RIMS by the MCI or not. This letter will save RIMS from possible de-recognition by MCI.

This letter will be useful in framing a National Policy as well. His posting as Director of RIMS may ignite a nationwide debate whether the administrative job of the Director and the Medical Superintendent in India should be manned by Medical Personnel or the Non-Medical Civil Servants.

I have personally seen in UK, USA and other developed countries that such administrative jobs are manned by non-medical civil servants and they are very effective and efficient in producing the best medical education and the best health and medical care services in the world. The idea is not to bother and burden the highly trained medical personnel with administrative functions.

(2) He may write a similar letter to the MCI with a request not to initiate temporary de-recognition proceedings against RIMS for no fault of RIMS. He may mention that he is ready to step down from the post if the MCI has any objection to his posting.

(3) He may encourage the Manipur Medical Council, the Indian Medical Association (IMA, Manipur Branch), the Teacher Association of RIMS, the Teacher Association of JNIMS to write similar letters to the Union Health Ministry and the MCI without further delay. The MCI may say that they do not have any objection but they will stick to their own criteria at the time of extending the recognition of RIMS. Then it may be assumed that MCI is ready to derecognise RIMS as they can not challenge the administrative order of the Union Health Ministry.

(4) The Manipur Medical Council, the Indian Medical Association (IMA, Manipur Branch), the Teacher Association of RIMS, the Teacher Association of JNIMS may also write to the Union Health Ministry to withdraw the administrative order appointing Mr RK Dinesh, IAS as the Director of RIMS as he does not fulfil the eligibility criteria laid down by MCI for the post of the Director of a Medical College putting the RIMS at the risk of temporary de-recognition.

They may also write similar letter to MCI to take up the matter with the Union Health Ministry, Government of India for an early solution. This step will save RIMS from temporary de-recognition by MCI as well aprovide an honourable exit to Mr RK Dinesh, IAS.