Yogesh Sharma

During the last four years a highly conducive atmosphere has been created in the sphere of medical education. It is hoped that with the success of these efforts future of the state would be golden.

Ability and expertise of those who impart medical education is bound to suffer if they are not given their due rights. With this in view, large scale promotions have been effected. Teachers have been promoted as assistant professors. With a view to preempting possibility of dearth of medical teachers in the wake of their large scale retirement, the state government has been preparing a second line of teachers from the young generation. The retirement age of medical colleges’ professors has also been raised to 65 years from 62 year.

The state government has undertaken serious efforts to remove shortage of teaching staff about which Medical Council of India had raised objections. It is because this has been part and participle of state government’s policy. During the last some months various teaching posts have been filled and the process is still on. The slight delay in the process was caused by the fact that candidates of reserved categories were not available. This led the state government to consider filling reserved posts with candidates of general category so that maximum number of vacant post can be filled.

The style of functioning betrays the intentions behind a task. Hindrances cease to exist if the intentions are clear and sincere. Abundance of financial resources is a pre-requisite for stability of any system and the future course of action is taken only after covering this aspect. The sincerity of the state government can be gauged from the fact the soon after assuming power, it raised the annual budget for medical education to Rs 65 crore in the year 2003-04. This budget continued to be increased so much so that it was Rs 275 crore in the year 2007-08. The four-fold increase in the budget for medical education gives clear indication of the state government’s resolve to improve it.

The state government was seized of the basis need of adequate teaching staff in medical colleges. The state government neither favours mere procedural formalities nor wants to compare with anything else. In fact, it intends to bring forth its sincere and solid efforts with a view to coming true to people’s expectations. After thoroughly thinking about the teaching staff, the state government took some important decisions after 2003 and 212 posts of demonstrators in medical colleges were regularised. Similarly, 299 posts of assistant professors were also filled through fresh appointments.

With this mission accomplished, the state government set about coming over other shortcomings pointed out of Medical Council of India. The council had raised objections on appliances and construction works. Therefore, the state government made provision of Rs 5.21 crore and Rs 5.96 for these two heads in the year 2007-08 and these works are being executed immaculately. In all, 73 objections were raised in the year 2003 by Medical Council of India. It goes to the credit of the state government that due to its untiring efforts, the number of objections has come down to 21 and zero at Bhopal and Indore medical colleges. Shortcomings in other medical colleges are also being overcome.

Not only this, but the state government in its efforts to extend the network of medical education, also laid the foundation of a new government medical college after 40 years. Construction of this medical college is progressing fast in Sagar divisional headquarter. Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh had announced opening of a new medical college during his first official tour to Sagar and his announcement was put into reality within a couple of months. This is also one of the proofs of state government’s commitment.

The state government has also been similar alacrity in promoting Indian medical systems and never made any discrimination vis-à-vis allopathic system. It may be mentioned that during the last four years, people’s faith in homoeopathic and Ayurvedic systems of treatment has increased considerably. With this in view, the state government has set up a joint medical college of Ayurvedic, homoeopathic and Unani systems of medicines. The state government has elicited Central Government’s recognition to Ujjain-based Government Ayurvedic College as a medical college. Similarly, Bhopal-based Homoeopathy and Unani College has also been given status of Model College. Rs six crore grant has been sanctioned for the abovementioned three works.

When efforts show determination, others too turn eager to lend a helping hand. This notion came true when, due to persistent efforts by the state government, the Union Government allowed to set up Aurvedic treatment centers in 31 district hospitals in the state and homoeopathic treatment centers at Bhopal. Considerable rise has been registered in the number of patients turning up Ayush hospitals and sub-hospitals. As per instructions of Medical Council of India, 120 posts of teaching cadre are being filled in seven Ayurvedic colleges. Similarly, 20 posts of teaching cadre in homoeopathy colleges are being filled as per recommendations of Homoeopathy Council of India.

It is due to untiring efforts in the sphere of indigenous medical system that one post each of ,physician and pharmacist has been sanctioned 200 selected community and primary health centers being run under National Rural Health Mission. Rs one crore has also been sanctioned for this purpose. The process of posting doctors has been completed in 167 Ayush dispensaries and community health centers and 28 primary health centers of Ayush hospitals. But the efforts would not end here since an enthusiastic atmosphere has come into existence in the state which would help the state government to undertake even more concrete measure to further improve the medical education as well as treatment.