Medicos express displeasure over promotion process and gag orders issued by the administration
Medicos express displeasure over promotion process and gag orders issued by the administration
If you happen to visit All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) during one of these days, don't be surprised to find pamphlets lying around in almost every corner of the hospital. These pamphlets, which have been distributed to every department of the Institute, express anger and disapproval of doctors over various decisions taken by the Director of the Institute.
Paper power: As the hospital administration was ignoring requests
made by the faculty, they opted for this method to highlight their
grievances. File pic
One of the issues highlighted by the faculty members through these pamphlets is the flaws in the recent appointment and promotion process undertaken by the institute.
"Out of the 252 candidates who appeared in the selection process, 39 were denied promotion by the selection committee comprising eight doctors with Professor Deka, Director, as its convener. It was for the first time in the history of AIIMS that the selection committee consisted entirely of doctors apparently to ensure fairness in the evaluation process.
Unfortunately, they turned out to be pathetically subservient to the wishes of director, AIIMS. Independent voices, be it from civil society or scholars with broad vision, were sorely missed.
To compound matters, it is alleged that the governing body abdicated on its responsibility of safekeeping the future of AIIMS and passed the agenda item on promotion that concern the very fibre of the Institute without a batting an eyelid, without even opening the file," the pamphlet read.
In other pamphlets, the faculty members have expressed their displeasure against numerous gag orders issued by the administration.
"The Harvard Medical School dropped a proposed media policy that would have restricted interaction with the news media after students complained about it. The AIIMS administration would do well to remember that the media and the public are equal stakeholders in out quest for science and any effort to restrict their excess to medical scientists smacks of puerile paternalism that has no place in today's information society," the pamphlet read.
According to the faculty members, as the Institute administration was ignoring all of their requests regarding these matters, they opted for this method to take their voice to the higher authorities. The pamphlets were issued by an in-house organisation Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum.
"These orders by the Institute administration are disgusting because academic freedom entails the right of a teacher or student, especially at the college or university level, to discuss or investigate any issue, or to express opinions, on any topic without interference or fear of penalty or other reprisal from either the university or the government," said one of the senior doctors from the institute on the condition of anonymity.
"In this era of information society, the AIIMS administration would do well to make a clear statement on academic freedom and other fundamental faculty rights and responsibilities," added another doctor who wished to remain anonymous. Director of the institute, Dr R C Deka was not available for a comment.
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