JNM Journalist Hardeep Jamwal, Jammu
Jammu and Kashmir’s government medical and dental colleges may soon see major administrative changes. The Health and Medical Education Department has issued instructions to implement the Head of Department (HOD) rotation order issued three years ago. This has increased the likelihood of a reshuffle of department positions in all government medical and dental colleges across the state.
According to information, the Health and Medical Education Department issued an order on June 22, 2023, providing for the appointment of professor-rank doctors as Heads of Departments on a rotational basis for two years each. However, many Heads of Departments opposed this decision at the time, and in some cases, legal challenges were also filed. Due to this opposition, the order was not effectively implemented for a long time.
Now, the Additional Secretary of the Department, Dr. Ata-ul-Muneem, has issued a letter to the principals of all government medical and dental colleges, directing them to implement the said order. This move is likely to intensify administrative turmoil in various colleges.
According to sources, most of the current department heads are not in favor of this arrangement. They argue that the department head should have sufficient time to implement reformative and long-term plans. Senior physicians believe that the two-year tenure is too short and should be extended to at least four years to better facilitate departmental development and academic activities.
This decision by the Health Department is likely to accelerate the process of new appointments and administrative reorganization in medical educational institutions in the coming days. At the same time, there is also the potential for debate and opposition within the medical community regarding this decision.
