SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 18: The state health department has initiated a step for extending the contract of professors and associate professors working in the three newly set up Medical colleges of the state further.
Over 25 professors and associates professors were appointed on a two-year contract in different faculties at Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) Hazaibagh, Medinirai Medical College Hospital (MMCH) Palamu and Phulo Jhanho Medical College Hospital (PJMCH) Dumka in 2021.
Their contract period is set to end on October 31.
Since the state government has not initiated any step regarding the extension or termination of the contract so far, the contractual professors and associate professors are apprehensive about their future. The authorities of medical colleges on Wednesday also did not give a proper reply on whether the contract of these teachers would be given an extension or whether they would be terminated.
The Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Health and the Additional Secretary did not answer the calls but the Director of the Medical Education wing of the state health department Dr SK Singh when contacted said that the matter is in cognizance of the health department and the process has been already been initiated to extend the contract before October 31st.
“A list of such teachers has already demanded from all medical colleges to do the needful action”, said the Director of Medical Education of the state Dr Singh.
The highest of nine professors and associate professors were appointed at Hazaribagh Medical College followed by Palamu Medical College (eight) and Dumka Medical College (seven).
The health department filled up the posts of senior faculty members in all the three medical colleges, set up in 2019, after the National Medical Commission (NMC) imposed a ban on admission in these institutions due to deficiencies of senior teachers and doctors.
A retired professor of a medical college said that the same situation would appear again for these medical colleges if these contractual teachers as well as doctors are not given an extension after October 31st.
“Despite an open advertisement no professor or associate professor came from other states. The state government has blocked promotions, so in such a situation only contractual teachers can cater to the requirements for saving the institutions,” said the retired professor of a medical college.
