The Punjab government is planning to appoint retired doctors and medical professionals from the private sector as professors and associate professors on a contract basis, reported 24NewsHD TV on Monday.
According to sources, doctors up to 65 years of age will be eligible for appointments against dozens of vacant teaching positions in different medical specialties. Applications for these posts have been invited until November 5.
The move is focused on 12 key basic and clinical science departments experiencing severe faculty shortages, including Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Anaesthesia, Pulmonology, Oncology, Radiology, Biochemistry, Forensic Medicine, Psychiatry, Paediatric Surgery, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, and Paediatric Cardiology.
The maximum period of the job will be three years, or until the age of 65, or until a regular candidate is appointed via promotion or through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), whichever comes first.
Senior doctors believed the move would create opportunities for junior doctors, as many of these positions have remained vacant for several months, leaving them to work without proper supervision from senior faculty members.
However, some sources have expressed concern that appointing professors and associate professors on a contract basis could weaken the permanent structure of medical education and affect the promotion prospects of doctors already working in government institutions.
They also fear that the policy could increase administrative control over medical education and make senior academic appointments dependent on the preferences of officials.
The proposed appointments have reportedly caused concern among permanent doctors, who believe the move could limit their chances of reaching senior academic positions.
The government has yet to publicly explain the reasons behind the proposed policy or respond to the concerns raised by medical professionals.
The post Punjab to Hire Retired Doctors as Professors appeared first on ProPakistani.
