Vacancy of senior resident doctors emerges as a concern at Kozhikode MCH

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Vacancies of senior resident (SR) doctors have reportedly emerged as another concern at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode, which is already hit by the shortage of staff doctors and house surgeons.

SRs are doctors who have completed their postgraduate courses, such as Doctor of Medicine (MD). Along with house surgeons – medical graduates who have completed their course and are doing their mandatory internship – and postgraduate students, they offer valuable service to the medical college hospital systems.

According to reliable sources, the Department of General Medicine at the Kozhikode MCH has vacancies for seven SRs. Of the 10 posts, only three are at present working there. From the Department of Surgery, one SR has been posted in the plastic surgery section on a temporary basis. The Department of Gynaecology has two vacancies, the Department of Pulmonary Medicine has one vacancy, and the Department of Anaesthesia has three vacancies. There is a shortage of SRs in super-speciality departments as well, with the Department of Emergency Medicine reporting a vacancy of two.

This is also one of the results of the transfer of SRs from here to other government medical college hospitals in Manjeri, Wayanad, and Kasaragod, ahead of the inspection by the National Medical Commission. It has also been alleged that those who have cleared MD from here are getting posted as SRs elsewhere. The sources say that this situation is putting extra pressure on final-year postgraduate students, who are also appearing for their exams now. Along with this come the arrangements in wards for admitting patients with suspected Nipah symptoms.

Meanwhile, the hospital authorities’ attempt to appoint non-academic junior resident doctors (NAJR) - MBBS graduates who have completed their course, but are not doing any PG course – through a walk-in interview has received a lukewarm response. The sources claim that only three or four persons attended the interview for the purpose held on July 4. The applicants are learnt to be blaming the lack of clarity on duty timings and postings in the interview notification for the poor response. The authorities tried to take in NAJRs in view of the culmination of the tenure of the 2019 batch of around 240 house surgeons. A new batch is yet to join duty. Though the Directorate of Medical Education approved the appointment of 120 NAJRs, only around 45 people appeared willing to join duty. Even among them, many postponed their joining date up to July 20, citing academic commitments.

Published - July 05, 2025 08:13 pm IST

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