Doctors Protest Lack of Appointments in Hospitals

Government doctors across Tamil Nadu held a protest on Tuesday wearing black
badges, shouting slogans, and handing out pamphlets. They asked the Health
Department to appoint more doctors instead of shifting existing ones and
forcing post-graduate medical students to work.
Dr. K. Senthil, president of the Government Doctors’ Association, said,
“The government has not created new posts for doctors in many newly opened
hospitals. No doctors, nurses, or staff have been appointed to run these
hospitals. Because of this, doctors are forced to do double duty, which badly
affects patient care.”
This issue has been going on for nearly two years. The immediate reason for
Tuesday’s protest was a circular issued on November 4 by the Director of Medical
Education, Dr. Suganthy Rajakumari. The circular asked deans of medical colleges
to send junior residents for transfer counselling.
Dr. A. Ramalingam, general secretary of the Service and Postgraduate Doctors
Association, said, “Officials have proposed to remove the post of junior
residents for service doctors. Post-graduate students will be asked to work
as junior residents, and qualified PG doctors will be sent to new hospitals.
How can students take the place of trained doctors?” he asked.