Society of Consultant Doctors of J&K has welcomed health and medical education department’s decision to allow consultants working in state health department lateral entry in upcoming medical colleges in J&K. In an official statement the society expressed its gratitude to the government, particularly principal secretary health and medical education for the arrangements being planned to make the colleges functional. As per an order issued by state government on 16 January 2019 two committees had been constituted – on each for Kashmir and Jammu – for allowing associate professors and professors from health department the lateral entry in the new colleges. For the post of professor, a senior consultant processing a post-graduate degree in relevant subject, work experience in a 300-bedded hospital and more than 16 years of experience, has been declared as eligible. “Such senior consultants/ consultants after joining the medical college shall be called as “designate professor” and on completion of 03 years experience in the capacity of designate professor such person shall be designated as professor. Aspirants also need to have four research publications in an indexed or national journal as the first or corresponding author published by or before 05 June 2017,” reads the government order. For the post of associate professor, while other criteria remain same, experience of 10 years has been sought. In addition, the aspirants are also required to have two original research publications in an indexed or national journal as the first or corresponding author published by or before 05 June 2017. The society of doctors said that there were “brilliant consultants in the health department, many having super-specialist degrees”. Dr Nazir Ahmed, president of the society said, “Utilizing services of consultants of health department would not only be beneficial for the GMC but for public at large”. “Government is well aware of all developments and making lateral entry permissible is just an indication of that,” the statement said.
SCD hails clearance to doctors’ lateral entry in medical colleges
