Extending retirement age of specialist docs Scepticism greets Govt's decision
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 15 2015:
Even as the age of superannuation for specialist doctors has been extended from 60 to 62 years with a view to enable vast spectrum of the society avail their service, many are sceptical whether the Government's new initiative would be fruitful enough.
Notably, a gazette notification was issued by the Chief Secretary on August 31 whereby age of superannuation of specialist doctors working under the State Government's Department of Health, Department of Family Welfare and Department AYUSH was extended from 60 to 62 years.
The gazette notification was in accordance with a Cabinet decision.
The spirit behind the new initiative is to enable greater number of people avail services of specialist doctors at Government hospitals and health centres for a longer period.
There are 410 specialist doctors working under the State Health Services and many of them have been holding different administrative posts including Director and Additional Director, informed a source.
Although the spirit behind the new initiative of extending the retirement age of specialist doctors is highly commendable, there are certain areas which are shrouded in ambiguities.
Many have started asking whether specialist doctors holding administrative posts would to the periphery or far off places for diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Even if one assumes that specialist doctors holding administrative posts go to far off places to render their service to people, then there is strong possibility of jeopardising administrative works.
On the other hand, there are many doctors under the Health Services who have not been promoted to the status of specialists on account of lack of vacant posts.
Nonetheless, these non-specialist doctors have been assigned tasks generally assigned to specialist doctors.
As they are not officially given the status of specialist doctors, they would be left out from the new initiative of extending the age of superannuation from 60 to 62 years.
Given all these ambiguities and vague areas, it remains highly doubtful whether the Government's new initiative can really serve its intended purpose.