After waiting for 12 years Doctors hired by state on ad-hoc basis write to Medical Education Minister for formal recruitment

18 state run hospital doctors have raised their voice against their 12-yr pending issue of their appointments in Govt hospitals, despite most of them have been working for more than 10-years on ad-hoc basis

Mumbai: Nearly 480 medical officers working on ad-hoc basis across the state on the frontline tackling the Coronavirus have raised the issue of their permanent appointment in government hospitals to Minister for Medical Education, Amit Vilasrao Deshmukh. In their emailed letter to the Minister, they have argued that despite posts being vacant across Maharashtra, the procedure for appointment has been halted. In absence of procedural appointment from the year 2009, the medical officers have been working on the same posts on ad-hoc basis.

The ad-hoc medical officers from 18 Medical Colleges and Hospitals across Maharashtra have in their letter have drawn the attention of the government to the fact that 480 ad-hoc medical officers are working as frontline warriors in the fight against the Coronavirus. They have highlighted that most of them are working for more than 10 to 12 years with the same hospitals and are on the same sixth pay commission salaries with no facilities.

Also Read: Malegaon power loom industry operations allowed brings respite to people from Malegaon

The copy of the letter in possession with TheNews21 states that from 2009, the state government run hospitals have 480 posts with them. However, these medical officers are appointed on ad-hoc basis for a period of 120 days by the authorities. 

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one such doctor with the JJ hospital said, “The issue has been raised from 2009, I am working on as an ad-hoc medical officer for last 10 years. There is no increment and no holiday for me. I do the same work as any other doctor in fact we are more burdened to look after the VIP patients in hospitals. There are 24 posts vacant in the JJ hospital and it is filled in the same 120 days pattern. We have demanded from the Minister for Medical Education, Amit Deshmukh to initiate procedure either by selection committee or via public service examination.”

“Every time the new government is formed in the state we raise our issue but no one takes note of this. We hope the Maha Vikas Aghadi government (MVA) permanently initiates this procedure”, he added.

The letter states that for about 12 years doctors have been working without any facilities like casual or medical holidays, maternity leave for women medical officers and the payment structure is based on sixth pay commission.

Another doctor (on the condition of anonymity) with JJ hospital said, “I am with this hospital for the last six years. As per the norms after five years they can appoint me as government employee but the procedure is not initiated.”

When contacted the Dean of JJ Group of Hospitals Dr Ranjit Mankeshwar confirmed that the letter of request from the ad-hoc medical officers with J J, St George and GT hospitals have been sent to the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER)”.

Reacting to the issue Minister for Medical Education Amit Deshmukh said, “I have not received any letter so far. I am grateful to the doctors who are serving to medical education department. The posts are sanctioned by the government and hence the appointments would be subject to recruitment rules laid down. There is a selection procedure and we will follow that, be it through selection committee or through state public service commission.  There is a procedure laid down by the government and it will be followed up accordingly.”