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

Government doctors in Tamil Nadu have raised concerns over several key positions at medical institution hospitals being vacant or held by personnel under additional-charge arrangements. This impasse is hindering administrative functioning and impacting timely decision-making regarding patient care, according to the doctors. Vacant positions and those filled through additional-charge arrangements include directors of institutes of internal medicine, orthopaedics, general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and paediatrics at various government medical colleges.

The post of DME (Directorate of Medical Education and Research) has also been held on additional charge. A senior doctor highlighted that key positions within the DME, such as DME and Additional DME, are under interim arrangement or vacant during crucial times like MBBS counselling and court cases concerning super specialty courses.

A. Ramalingam, general secretary of Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association, criticized the trend, noting that the DME oversees 38 medical colleges and their affiliated institutions. He pointed out that the increasing number of seats for undergraduate, postgraduate, and allied health science courses, along with government schemes, have not been matched by regular appointments, leading to the practice of managing these positions through additional-charge arrangements.

Ramalingam emphasized that when a panel of eligible candidates is prepared in advance, the eligible candidate should take charge automatically upon the incumbent's retirement. He also questioned the need to place another person on additional charge instead of automatically placing an eligible candidate. The vacancies in key posts are affecting administrative decision-making, leading to delayed promotions and payband-4 compression.

The panel of eligible candidates should ideally be prepared by March 15 every year to avoid complications arising from such vacancies. An official confirmed that the process is underway with the government, and these posts would soon be filled.