Govt doctors in UP must serve in PMHS cadre after doing PG for 10 years or pay Rs 1 cr fine

 


In a bid to check the depleting number of specialists in the Provincial Medical and Health Services (PMHS), the UP has made it mandatory for government doctors seeking the NOC to pursue post-graduate courses to serve in the cadre for at least 10 years. Those who don't do so will have to pay back Rs 1 crore as penalty to the government.

"As per the rule, the in-service doctors who undertake PG courses will have to give in writing that they would return to the primary cadre upon completion of their programme and serve for a minimum period of 10 years. In case they fail, they will have to pay a fine of Rs 1 crore to the state exchequer,” said additional chief secretary Amit Mohan Prasad.

Rules in this regard had been framed through an order issued by the Yogi Adityanath government in April 2017. Prasad issued a fresh order on Thursday to enforce this order strictly. The same order also stated that in-service doctors who leave the PG course mid-way will be debarred from taking PG exams for three years.

Government doctors who are a part of the PMHS are encouraged to take up PG courses to fill up the shortage of specialists in the cadre. Out of 8,000 sanctioned posts of specialist doctors in the cadre, 60% seats are lying vacant.

At the time of PG admissions, PMHS doctors get extra marks if they have served in rural areas for a minimum period of three years.

“However, there are examples to prove that people took advantage of the provision but strayed away when the time to return the favour came. The realization made the Yogi Government issue strict orders,” said Dr Sachin Vaishya, president, UP PMHS Association.

The order issued by the state government clearly mentions that the intention behind this scheme is to provide quality medical care and specialist services to the people in rural and difficult-to-reach areas.

An official spokesperson also pointed out that many steps have been taken by the Yogi government to address the shortage of specialist doctors during the pandemic peak.

In August this year, the medical education department made it mandatory for doctors completing MD, MS and PG Diploma courses from state government-run medical colleges to serve in government hospitals for at least two years.

Earlier on Friday, the state government amended the UP Medical and Health Service Rules to make the government services more attractive to post graduates. As per the amendment, the specialists will be appointed one level above the entry level (medical officer). It also stated that they will be allowed to serve in their home districts till level-3 and will not be sent on non-clinical duties.

Popular posts from this blog

PG Doctors of India must work not more than 48 Hr/week: SC

Why DNB exam tougher than MS/MD exam?