Vacant, additional charge posts hit governance in T.N. government medical colleges

Several key positions in government medical college hospitals across Tamil Nadu are either vacant or being managed under additional-charge arrangements, according to government doctors. This, they say, is impeding administrative functioning and delaying decisions that affect patient care.

An inquiry with doctors across multiple institutions revealed that the affected posts include directors of institutes of internal medicine, orthopaedics, general surgery, and cardiothoracic surgery at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), surgical gastroenterology at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital (SMCH), and paediatrics at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. Additionally, deans of medical college hospitals in Tirunelveli, Coimbatore ESI, and Tiruvannamalai are also vacant or held on an additional-charge basis. The post of director at the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children in Egmore has been held on additional charge for nearly a year.

The issue extends to the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DME), which oversees all government medical college hospitals in the State. The post of DME is currently being held on additional charge, and the position of Additional DME is also vacant. A senior doctor noted that these interim arrangements come at a critical time, as MBBS counselling and a court case concerning super speciality courses are under way.

A. Ramalingam, general secretary of the Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association, highlighted that the DME is a major department controlling 38 medical colleges and their affiliated institutions. “Year after year, the number of undergraduate, postgraduate, and allied health science seats, along with government schemes, are on the rise, but the post has not been filled through regular appointments and is managed through Full Additional Charge (FAC). This has become routine over the years,” he said.

He added that this trend was prevalent under previous governments and is being continued by the present one. “When a panel of eligible candidates is prepared in advance, the eligible candidate should assume charge automatically once the incumbent retires. Where an eligible candidate is available, what is the need to place another person on FAC? The continued use of FAC arrangements undermines the authority and effectiveness of the post of director,” Ramalingam said.

The post of Additional DME is also vacant, and Ramalingam pointed out that unlike the other two health directorates, the DME is poorly staffed with no administrative posts like joint directors. Referring to the vacant posts of Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at RGGGH and Surgical Gastroenterology at SMCH, he warned that continued vacancies could weaken and dilute transplant services.

Another doctor said administrative decision-making slows down when posts are held on an FAC basis. Delayed promotions have a cascading effect on the promotions of professors and associate professors and also affect payband-4 compression.

Ramalingam suggested that panels should be prepared by March 15 every year as a cut-off date. “Adhering to this timeline would ensure that eligible candidates are identified in advance and avoid complications arising from vacancies in key posts,” he said.

An official said the process was under way with the government and that the posts at government medical college hospitals would be filled soon.