PANJIM: Considered to be the second oldest medical institution in Asia, the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) is unable to attract doctors to take up teaching positions.
Almost 30 percent of the faculty positions at GMC are vacant and most of the posts have lapsed after being advertised several times and no suitable candidates willing to take those posts found.
In a startling revelation, out of 203 sanctioned faculty positions 58 positions in the medical sciences are vacant across various departments. Out of the 58 positions that need to be filled, 39 have lapsed for no recruitments done over the years.
The highest are in the Surgery Department where 8 positions are vacant, including one of Assistant Professor and 7 of lecturers, followed by the Medicine Department with 6 positions vacant.
Out the 12 positions in the applied health science courses, 9 positions are vacant and 8 of them have lapsed for not being filled despite being advertised several times.
Senior doctors in GMC attribute the failure to attract eligible doctors to the institutions to the remunerations paid. “The salaries paid in the government sector are far less compared to the private sector. Well-qualified doctors who are eligible either join the private sector or have gone abroad,” he said.
Stating that in the current scenario where super-speciality is in demand, the doctor said, “Even though many doctors have become super-specialists in various fields, we have failed to get them to GMC. The biggest reason being salaries, as they are paid more abroad. It requires a commitment to be here and a sense of giving back to the institution.”
Other doctors said that even the super-specialists in GMC are paid far less than what the private sector hospitals pay the doctors.
The Head of a Department said, “Being a doctor in GMC means you will have additional duties. We in GMC not only see the patients, but also teach and thereafter also do administrative duties which include being present for medico-legal cases.”
He said that if not employed in a private hospital, a doctor would prefer to practice as an individual instead of joining in GMC and having additional responsibilities.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane lamented that those at the helm of affairs at GMC have neglected their duties. “The Dean of GMC has been attending meetings at the University and there has been total neglect of Goa Medical College. He has been directed by the government that his full-time and attention will be only in working towards bringing back GMC to its old glory.”
Stating that he is working overtime to ensure improvement of the institute at the earliest, Rane who is Health Minister for second time said, “Getting doctors is my top priority. The proposals need to be put forward properly and come up with comprehensive plans. I hope to get the institution in order soon.”
