Age cap for senior residency upsets PCMS doctors

Though the Medical Council of India has given a good news to doctors by increasing seats of senior residents in medical colleges in Patiala and Amritsar, but the Punjab government's decision to fix the age limit for senior residency may spoil party for the aspirants, especially Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) specialist doctors.

Though the Medical Council of India has given a good news to doctors by increasing seats of senior residents in medical colleges in Patiala and Amritsar, but the Punjab government's decision to fix the age limit for senior residency may spoil party for the aspirants, especially Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) specialist doctors.

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In a recent notification, the state government had decided that age for senior residency must not be more than 45 years.

However, apart from increasing seats of senior residents, the government has also relaxed eligibility norms after taking a serious note of the vacant seats over the years due to non-availability of eligible candidates.

Against the 139 sanctioned posts, including 72 in government medical college in Amritsar and 67 in Rajindera medical college here, the MCI has given nod to add 160 more seats in each college.

Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal, President of the PCMS Specialists Association, said the PCMS specialist doctors are feeling let down once again with the notification of state government nullifying the purpose of increasing seats of senior residents in all specialties.

"Fixing age will not serve any purpose as it takes three years for the completion of senior residency and the number of doctors from the PCMS cadre who are presently eligible to do their senior residency is very less across the state", he said.

The association also raised questions over the government's decision to allow doctors from other cadres to apply for seats.

As per relaxed norms, though the first preference during recruitment would be given to PCMS doctors than to new PCMS recruits and to postgraduate students of the government colleges and lastly it would be open for all.

"This move is completely a nefarious design by certain anti-PCMS lobbyists, who are discouraging PCMS specialist doctors serving in rural areas and restricting their entries into state medical colleges", he said.

He said the association will take up the matter with medical education minister Anil Joshi and principal secretary of health and family welfare department for review.