Sambalpur: Concerns Mount Over Faculty Shortage at Vimsar, Threatening MBBS Seat Reduction
Sambalpur: The state’s medical education system will be hit hard. Burla Vir Surendra Sai Medical University (Vimsar) in Sambalpur has expressed concern regarding the reduction of MBBS seats. The National Medical Commission (UG Medical Education) has written to the Director and Dean of Vimsar requesting why the MBBS seats at Vimsar should not be reduced, citing a lack of required faculty. In this context, an important virtual meeting was also held. However, the director has yet to respond to the letter or the medical commission meeting. Instead, only 20% of faculty positions are vacant in Vimsar. He explained that the work is done through direct recruitment.
There is a doctor shortage across the state, including health centers, SCBs, Vimsar, MKCGs, and even SMs. To tackle this, the state government is opening new medical colleges in a variety of locations. However, under this situation, the National Medical Commission has highlighted serious concerns about Vimsar’s medical education system. It stated that between January 1 and February 29, 2024, 20 to 12 departments at Vimsar will be short of faculty, resident doctors, or tutors. There is a shortage of equipment in fields such as radiology, ultrasound, serology tests, and surgery. Family adoption initiatives must also need to be executed appropriately. The condition is such that even basic information regarding the faculty is unavailable. In such a situation, it has been questioned why MBBS seats will not be reduced or financial penalties will not be levied.
According to sources, there has been a lack of faculty at Vimsar for many years. For example, Professor and Associate Professor positions are open in highly specialized departments such as Nephrology. There is only one professor at Radio Diglossia. But his term will expire on May 31. MBBS tuition would be affected if the appropriate recruitment is not completed here. The position of Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery has become vacant with the retirement of Manoranjan Acharya. The situation in the other departments is similar.
