Regularise services of contract doctors: AP Government Doctors Association

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Government Doctors Association (APGDA) has been appealing for the last one year to fill the doctor posts on regular basis, so that the contract doctors will be regularised. Dr Pidakala Syamsundar, secretary general of APGDA, deplored in a statement here on Monday that these doctors have been working on contract basis for over 10 years.

At the same time, APGDA has also been asking the government to enhance the retirement age for MBBS doctors to 63 years, he said and regretted that the government has been neglecting and delaying both issues.

Senior MBBS doctors are reaching their retirement stage and most of the contract doctors, vexed with poor service conditions, have decided to resign to the jobs, the secretary general of APGDA pointed out.

He warned that the public health might collapse in the tribal, rural and urban areas resulting in increase of fevers like dengue, malaria and other cases due to lack of monitoring by senior MBBS doctors.

The government should immediately increase the retirement age to 63 years for MBBS doctors and issue notification for regular recruitment of MBBS doctors, so that the services of the most of the contract doctors can be regularised. Action in this regard by the government will ensure availability of effective medical services to poor patients and protecting people’s health.