New Delhi: In a major decision aimed at addressing the shortage of doctors, the government on Wednesday decided to increase the retirement age of central government doctors including those working under the AYUSH ministry and in the railways to 65 years.
The retirement age of doctors in some departments is 60 years and in some others, it is 62. The decision to this effect was taken on Wednesday by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
Terming the decision as people-centric and pro-patient, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said, "The decision will help utilise the services of experienced doctors. It will also help in retaining the existing strength of experienced doctors, thereby providing better patient care. This will also help in improving doctor-patient ratio in the country," he said.
Nadda further said that the decision may not have much financial implications as large numbers of posts are lying vacant and the present incumbents would continue to work in their existing capacity against sanctioned posts. Around 1,445 doctors of various ministries and departments of the central government would be benefited, he said.
Slamming the decision, DS Meena, the former vice president of Forum of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), said, "The decision would reduce the employment opportunities for young doctors for the next five years. The shortage of specialist doctors would remain the same even after increasing their age as most of the specialist doctors are placed at administrative posts in different cities, who would never go to
remote locations."
"It would not benefit poor patients as experienced doctors would not leave their plum posts and join district hospitals or PHCs,"
Meena said.