Key posts at govt. medical institutions across T.N. vacant or held by personnel given additional-charge, say doctors

Key positions at government medical institutions in Tamil Nadu are vacant or held by personnel assigned additional-charge duties, according to government doctors. This impairs administrative functioning and hampers timely decision-making regarding patient care. The vacant or additional-charge positions include directors at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, surgical gastroenterology at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, and paediatrics at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.

The post of director of the Institute of the Child Health and Hospital for Children in Egmore has been on an additional charge basis for nearly a year. The issue extends to the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, which oversees government medical colleges. The post of DME is also held on an additional charge, affecting MBBS counselling and a court case on super specialty courses.

A senior doctor highlighted that two important positions in the directorate were vacant, impacting undergraduate, postgraduate, and allied health science seat allocations. The trend of using additional-charge arrangements started under previous governments and persists under the current administration. The Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at RGGGH and Surgical Gastroenterology at SMCH remain vacant, potentially weakening transplant services.

Administrative decision-making slows down when key posts are held on an additional charge basis, causing delayed promotions and payband-4 compression. A panel of eligible candidates should be prepared in advance to assume charge upon incumbent retirement; otherwise, additional-charge arrangements undermine the post's authority. The process to fill these vacancies is underway, and the government promises to address the issue soon.