Doctors to be moved to non-administrative positions post 62, says Health Ministry

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to increase the age of retirement of Union government doctors and non-teaching staff from 62 to 65 years may have been approved by the Cabinet, but there's a twist in the tale. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has now decided that the "experienced doctors" should be moved to non-administrative positions after attaining age of 62 years.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

The decision is going to affect the future of more than 300 doctors holding key positions within the Health Ministry, along with other senior doctors in hospitals falling under other ministries such as Railways, Home and Labour. The Health Ministry said that it closely examined the order and the Department of Personnel's notification published in the Gazette of India dated May 31, 2016, enhancing the age of superannuation.

"The matter has been further examined and it has been decided that CHS (Central Health Services) officers of Non Teaching Specialist, Public Health Specialist and GDMO sub-cadres of CHS will hold the administrative posts till the date of attaining the age of 62 years and thereafter their services would be placed in non administrative positions," stated Lalit Kumar, Under Secretary to the Government of India, in a memorandum dated July 19, 2016.

According to the memorandum, officials will be designated as non-teaching specialists, public health specialists, GDMO, principal consultant, principal advisor, consultant and advisor after 62 years of age.

UNREST ENSUED

The decision has caused a feeling of unrest among those officials who are going to attain the age of 62 this year. "Authorities are trying to make their own set of department within the ministry. We will be left with no work if we are shifted to non-administrative posts. We have given so much to the ministry and public health from our experience but as consultants we will practically be having no work for three years," said a senior official in the Health Ministry.

"The decision will also affect the economy as in non-administrative posts we won't be able to justify our salaries," said another doctor in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Within the Health Ministry there are several officials who will soon be attaining the age of 62. The key officials are currently designated as Director General, Special Director General Deputy Director Generals, Additional Deputy Director General, Additional Director Generals, Deputy Additional Director Generals and CMOs.

The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi last month gave its approval for enhancement of the age of superannuation of non-teaching and public health specialists of Central Health Service from 62 to 65 years and GDMOs sub-cadre of CHS to 65 years. The government said that the target group would be officers of non-teaching, public health and GDMO sub-cadres of CHS.

WILL THIS HELP IN BETTER PATIENT CARE?

The decision would help in better patient care, proper academic activities in medical colleges as also in effective implementation of National Health Programmes for delivery of healthcare services. The government added that there are no financial implications as the vacant posts would have to be filled up quickly to ensure continuity of patient care. Also Read:

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