Increase retirement age of MBBS doctors to 63 years

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Government Doctors’ Association (APGDA) state secretary-General Dr Pidakala Syam Sunder on Saturday demanded the state government to immediately release a GO enhancing the age limit of MBBS doctors working in government hospitals up to 63 years on par with the specialist doctors. He said people are badly in need of the services of senior doctors working in the government hospitals as fevers like malaria, dengue, typhoid and other viral fevers have become uncontrollable in the state.

He said most senior MBBS doctors are retiring and there were no fresh recruitments in the hospitals. He said tribal and rural health system is badly affected due to shortage of doctors in the hospitals. Dr Syam Sunder said the APGDA submitted a representation to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu about 45 days ago requesting him to increase the retirement agent of government MBBS doctors to 63. They also explained to him how the services of senior MBBS doctors are useful to the people particularly in the rural and tribal areas.

Dr Syam Sunder said the Chief Minister had instructed the concerned Health secretaries to look in to this mater. He said Secretary to the Chief Minister for health Girija Sankar and special chief secretary for Health Poonam Malakondaiah immediately instructed Director of medical education 40days ago to send his remarks in this aspect. Dr Syam Sunder said the director of medical education sent his remarks to the government about the requests made by the APGDA but there is no response yet.

Dr Syam Sunder said there was no progress on the increase of age limit to 63 years. He has demanded that the government should take a decision to increase the age limit for retirement in view of the retirement of many senior MBBS doctors at the age of 60 and slow recruitment process.