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CHENNAI: Four of the six key directorates of the Tamil Nadu health department are headed by people holding additional charge.
The director of medical education (DME) Dr R Santhimalar is also Government Kilpauk Medical College dean. The DME has to oversee all the 36 other state-run medical and dental colleges in the state.
“How can a dean who is already administering a medical college and hospital with 1000-plus beds efficiently oversee the functioning of so many colleges,” asks Government Doctors Association president Dr K Senthil.
Dr Shanthimalar was given additional charge on October 31, 2022, when Dr R Narayanababu retired as DME.
Before that, in July 2022, Dr Shamsath Begum took over as director of medical services (DMS) following the retirement of Dr Gurunathan. Two months later Dr Begum retired and the director of family welfare Dr V P Harisundari was made “in charge” as DMS.
Around the same time, P V Vijayalakshmi was posted as director (in charge) of drug control following the retirement of K Sivabalan. Besides this, posts such as vice-chancellor of the state medical university and ESIC director are vacant.
The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association says it has made several representations to health minister Ma Subramanian and state health secretary P Senthilkumar. The association has also complained to chief minister MK Stalin.
K Senthil of the doctors association said deans of hospitals won’t have the time to do the work of a DME. “Deans start work at 8am and are busy until 4pm. She must skip work at both college and hospital to do the job of a DME, who administers all medical colleges,” he said.
A DME also liaisons with the National Medical Commission for new medical colleges and renewal of licences and takes part in reviews and policy planning meetings of the government,” said former director of medical education Dr Edwin Joe. “Combining these two posts isn’t rare in Tamil Nadu. But it affects services,” he said.
Similarly, as director of family welfare, Dr Harisundari must make certain all district health officials register and monitor pregnant women, deliver maternal benefits, and ensure institutional delivery to keep maternal and infant mortality under check.
At the same time, as DMS, she is also the appropriate authority for several Acts such as clinical establishments (all hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, scan centres and labs), the organ transplant act, the pre-conception, and the pre-natal diagnostic techniques act. The DMS is also in charge of the secondary care institutions of the state.
Health officials say the “additional postings” are given as these posts cannot be left vacant.
“The post is not given to the senior most person all the time. We make sure that person taking up such posts has at least one year of service left. This takes time,” said health secretary Senthilkumar.
It has been three weeks since the state appointed a three-member search committee for recommending a panel of three persons to Governor R N Ravi for appointment as vice-chancellor of the medical university. But the committee is yet to call for applications.
The extended term of the previous chancellor Dr Sudha Seshayyan ended on December 31. Her term was extended for a year as a suitable candidate could not be identified. Sources said the panel is waiting to meet the governor before starting the selection process.
The director of medical education (DME) Dr R Santhimalar is also Government Kilpauk Medical College dean. The DME has to oversee all the 36 other state-run medical and dental colleges in the state.
“How can a dean who is already administering a medical college and hospital with 1000-plus beds efficiently oversee the functioning of so many colleges,” asks Government Doctors Association president Dr K Senthil.
Dr Shanthimalar was given additional charge on October 31, 2022, when Dr R Narayanababu retired as DME.
Before that, in July 2022, Dr Shamsath Begum took over as director of medical services (DMS) following the retirement of Dr Gurunathan. Two months later Dr Begum retired and the director of family welfare Dr V P Harisundari was made “in charge” as DMS.
Around the same time, P V Vijayalakshmi was posted as director (in charge) of drug control following the retirement of K Sivabalan. Besides this, posts such as vice-chancellor of the state medical university and ESIC director are vacant.
The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association says it has made several representations to health minister Ma Subramanian and state health secretary P Senthilkumar. The association has also complained to chief minister MK Stalin.
K Senthil of the doctors association said deans of hospitals won’t have the time to do the work of a DME. “Deans start work at 8am and are busy until 4pm. She must skip work at both college and hospital to do the job of a DME, who administers all medical colleges,” he said.
A DME also liaisons with the National Medical Commission for new medical colleges and renewal of licences and takes part in reviews and policy planning meetings of the government,” said former director of medical education Dr Edwin Joe. “Combining these two posts isn’t rare in Tamil Nadu. But it affects services,” he said.
Similarly, as director of family welfare, Dr Harisundari must make certain all district health officials register and monitor pregnant women, deliver maternal benefits, and ensure institutional delivery to keep maternal and infant mortality under check.
At the same time, as DMS, she is also the appropriate authority for several Acts such as clinical establishments (all hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, scan centres and labs), the organ transplant act, the pre-conception, and the pre-natal diagnostic techniques act. The DMS is also in charge of the secondary care institutions of the state.
Health officials say the “additional postings” are given as these posts cannot be left vacant.
“The post is not given to the senior most person all the time. We make sure that person taking up such posts has at least one year of service left. This takes time,” said health secretary Senthilkumar.
It has been three weeks since the state appointed a three-member search committee for recommending a panel of three persons to Governor R N Ravi for appointment as vice-chancellor of the medical university. But the committee is yet to call for applications.
The extended term of the previous chancellor Dr Sudha Seshayyan ended on December 31. Her term was extended for a year as a suitable candidate could not be identified. Sources said the panel is waiting to meet the governor before starting the selection process.
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