SRINAGAR: In a major reform in Medical Education, the J&K government has accorded sanction to the implementation of a 3-tier faculty structure in GMCs of Jammu and Srinagar including both the Super Specialty Hospitals associated with these Colleges with upgradation/re-designation of 287 Lecturers.
“With in-principle approval to the implementation of the 3-tier faculty structure in these GMCs there will be creation of another 136 posts at the level of Associate Professor and Professor to further strengthen and improve teaching and patient care in these reputed medical institutions,” informed an official spokesperson of Health and Medical Education Department while elaborating on the subject.
Pursuant to the approval of the Administrative Council, an executive order has been issued by the Secretary, of Health and Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, according sanction to the implementation of a 3-tier faculty structure in these GMCs affecting restructuring of faculty arrangement in these premier institutes. This will bring these Medical entities at par with the faculty structure of newly established GMCs and in tune with the mandatory norms of the National Medical Commission’s Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022.
Pertinently, the National Medical Commission had in 2009 abolished the designation/post of Lecturer in Medical Education and prescribed only a 3-tier faculty structure of Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor. However, in J&K, the post of Lecturers continued to remain existent with a 4-tier faculty structure in GMC Jammu and GMC Srinagar.
During inspections of these GMCs, the NMC did not count the Lecturers as faculty. In new GMCs of J&K, the Medical Education Department has already put in place a 3-tier faculty structure and appointed faculty as per NMC norms, with the post of Assistant Professor as an entry-level post. The faculty associations of GMCs Jammu and Srinagar have for long been demanding the abolition of the post of Lectures and the implementation of NMC norms on faculty structure.
Besides, restructuring of faculty in GMC Jammu and GMC Srinagar was also recommended by the Y K Chawla Committee set up by the High Court of J&K and Ladakh. A proposal of the Medical Education Department for the abolition of all the posts of Lecturers in these two GMCs and up-gradation and creation of an equal number of posts at the level of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor in a 3-tier faculty structure was earlier concurred to in-principle by the Finance Department.
The UT’s Administrative Council, the highest decision-making body, has given its nod to the Health and Medical Education Department’s proposal for the implementation of a 3-tier faculty structure in principle and has directed the Department to upgrade 287 posts of Lecturers as Assistant Professors. The Administrative Council has also directed the Health and Medical Education Department to amend Recruitment Rules which were last framed in 1979. The Department has in both the GMC approved the corresponding increase of 136 posts which are being created at the level of Associate Professor and Professor. The Health and Medical Education Department has already initiated the process for the creation of posts at a higher level and framing of new Recruitment Rules in tune with NMC norms.
The restructuring of both the GMCs will also enable these Institutions to apply for more PG seats and will have the likelihood of substantial funding from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India. Subject to fulfilment of requisite criteria, the two GMCs will be eligible to apply for nearly 300 PG seats thereby improving the specialist doctor/patient ratio in the UT.
