Jammu, Sep 29: Amid criticism from the faculty members of the Medical Education Department, the J&K Government has initiated the process for appointment of specialist doctors from the neighboring states.
Official sources said following the announcement made by the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during his recent visit to the state, the Department has initiated the process to ascertain the feasibility of the proposal to appoint specialists for the upcoming Super-Speciality Hospital in Jammu.
“Government has decided that half of the post of doctors would be advertised in other states of the country while the process has been set to recruit the doctors in J&K on fast-track basis,” Azad had said.
He had also categorically emphasized that the hospitals would be made functional during the current year.
Official sources told Greater Kashmir that the government is examining the system prevalent in the neighboring states. “Various aspects like seniority, pay scales etc. are being studied to find a best possible way out,” they said.
The sources however confirmed that the doctors to be appointed from the neighboring states will be from government hospitals.
In view the criticism from faculty members of the Medical Education Department on such appointments, the issue is not going to be a cakewalk for the Government to handle.
Senior faculty members in the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H) Jammu said that the government will have to first decide on various issues before it hires doctors from other states.
“IN J&K, it takes at least 13 years for a lecturer to become professor. In other states it takes 9 to 10 years for the same. This dual system is going to trigger confusion and chaos,” said a faculty member, wishing anonymity.
Commissioner/Secretary, Health Department Manoj Dwivedi while confirming the initiation of process, said: “We are examining the system and other guiding principles of the government hospitals of the neighboring states.”
He said: “It may be possible that someone with higher experience appointed from outside may get enhanced grade but the one from within the state may have different grade as the state has its own grading system”.
He however, said that “if experience-wise someone from other state is senior he may be appointed on higher post like Associate Professor or Professor but if both have same experience there will be same perks.”

Lastupdate on : Sat, 29 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 29 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST