The State Government’s plan to start Doon Medical College soon, appears bleak as the medical health and family welfare department is yet to appoint a principal for the college. After refusal of two of the selected candidates for the coveted post the department would now conduct fresh interviews on October 12.
Seemingly frustrated by the slow pace of construction and other activities for Doon medical college in state capital, the Chief Secretary Rakesh Sharma had set up a time bound frame work for completion of all pending works before the proposed visit of Medical Council of India (MCI) team. In the meeting, which was held on August 20 the CS had asked the department to first complete the process of appointment of Principal and other faculty by September. A visibly mobilized department released the advertisement for the post of Principal on August 21 and conducted interviews on August 25. The selection committee selected Dr AK Mehta of SGRR medical college for the post but he changed his mind at the last minute. To make matter worse Dr AK Verma who was second choice of the committee too rejected the offer citing less pay package.
On the other hand, the clearance for the releasing the recruitment advertisement for different teaching and other posts is still pending with the State Government. The MCI norms mandates that a 150 first year MBBS seat medical college should have at least 65 posts of teaching faculty, 46 posts of resident doctors, 100 posts of paramedical staff and 175 posts of nurses.
The officiating Director of Doon medical college, Dr Ashutosh Syana told The Pioneer that the department has sent the proposal of 606 posts for the medical college to the State Government and after its approval the recruitment advertisement for these posts would be released. He accepted that due to refusal of two candidates the process of appointment of Principal is delayed but added that the department is on right track for medical college. “We have convened a fresh walk-in-interview for the post of Principal which would be held on October 12”, he said.
Time however is running out for the department as the team of MCI is expected to visit any time after November. In its last visit the MCI team castigated the officials of medical health department on shoddy preparations and wasting their time. The medical college which is being constructed at different sites of the city is expected to cost `383 Crores to the government.