BHUBANESWAR: Deputed and contractual assistant professors engaged in different government medical colleges of the state on Friday urged the Odisha government to absorb them and regularise their services.
The teachers have submitted a memorandum to chief minister Naveen Patnaik seeking the fulfilment of their demands.
More than 200 teachers are working in different government-run medical colleges of the state.
They were appointed through a selection process conducted by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC).
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“All of us have worked in the medical colleges as faculties for around seven-eight years, including as senior residents and assistant professors.
We form the backbone of these hospitals,” an assistant professor said.
The professor added that they have been named as faculties in the yearly Medical Council of India review for years together.
“We have been involved in both the treatment of patients and teaching of undergraduate/postgraduate students for several years.
We were also involved in the management of Covid hospitals in different regions of the state,” he added.
Another assistant professor said the OPSC examination for the post of permanent assistant professors in government medical colleges has not been conducted for the last four years.
“Many of us have crossed the age limit for taking the next OPSC examination, which is uncertain, while some of us will cross it in the near future,” he added.
He said there will be a shortage of senior faculties like associate professors and professors in the coming days owing to the opening of many new government medical colleges and the retirement of senior faculties from almost all departments.
Even the new medical colleges require more faculties to either sustain or increase the MBBS seats or open MD/MS seats according to the MCI rules.
“Our experience will be of great help in the medical education system,” he added.
In the memorandum, the assistant professors further said they have been appointed at a critical time when the state is in a desperate need for recognition by MCI to increase the MBBS seats to meet the growing healthcare needs.