Shortage of doctors affecting medical colleges

GUWAHATI: The State Government is setting up new medical colleges to bridge the doctor-demand gap. The government, however, has hit a roadblock in the form of a shortage of doctors (teachers) in medical colleges.

According to official sources, the state has 12 medical colleges in operation, with a strength of 2,438 doctors compared to the requirement of 2,894. Thus, the medical colleges in the state run short of 456 doctors.

Apart from the 12 medical colleges, the state has 4,758 sub-health centres, 1,018 primary health centres, 210 community health centres, 15 sub-divisional hospitals, 21 district hospitals, etc. All these health institutions need over 7,000 doctors if the appointments are in accordance with the norms.

In every Assembly session, the legislators raise the issue of the paucity of doctors and the need for doctors in their areas. And the Health Minister has a common answer: the government is taking measures to increase the number of doctors.

According to health services rules, a state dispensary is to cater to the health services of a population of 30,000 in plain areas and 20,000 in hilly areas. According to the norms of the WHO, the ideal doctor-population ratio is 1:1,000. However, Assam has many places where the doctor-population ratio is up to 1:2,000.

Apart from doctors, the paucity of paramedical staff also affects the health services in the state. According to official sources, to put an end to the paucity of doctors, the department is on a spree to set up new medical colleges in the state so as to have more qualified doctors every year. The target of the government is to set up 24 medical colleges in the state. The problems are such that a section of the newly passed doctors are from the central quota and they go outside the state, and a section of doctors joins the private sector. The government is filling up the vacant posts of professors, associate professors, and assistant professors via promotion through the Medical and Health Recruitment Board. In the case of the appointment of teachers, especially assistant professors, the government has raised the upper age limit from 38 to 45 years.

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