Punjab to appoint retired doctors as medical professors on contract
Applications for dozens of vacant teaching posts in 12 specialties close on November 5, with each contract capped at three years.
The Punjab government has invited applications to appoint retired doctors and private-sector medical professionals as professors and associate professors on contract in 12 medical departments.
Applications close on November 5. Doctors up to the age of 65 are eligible for the posts, which run into the dozens and sit in specialities where teaching staff have been short for months, according to ProPakistani and TechJuice.
The departments are Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Anaesthesia, Pulmonology, Oncology, Radiology, Biochemistry, Forensic Medicine, Psychiatry, Paediatric Surgery, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery and Paediatric Cardiology.
An appointment will last a maximum of three years. It ends earlier if the doctor turns 65, if a regular candidate is appointed through promotion, or if the Punjab Public Service Commission fills the post, whichever comes first.
ProPakistani, citing 24NewsHD TV, reported that the posts have stayed vacant for several months. Senior doctors told both outlets that the appointments would create opportunities for junior doctors, who have been working in these departments without supervision from senior faculty.
Permanent doctors have objected. They fear the policy could limit their chances of reaching senior academic positions, according to both reports. Sources quoted by the outlets said contract appointments could weaken the permanent structure of medical education and affect the promotion prospects of doctors already working in government institutions.
The same sources said the policy could increase administrative control over medical education and make senior academic appointments depend on the preferences of officials.
The reports did not name the forum that approved the hiring or the officials who designed it. The government has not publicly explained the reasons for the proposed policy and has not responded to the concerns raised by medical professionals.
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