Medical Council of India research rule delays promotions
MCI said that all professors must have at least four research publications to their credit
Hyderabad: The delay in promoting professors is because of the strict rule set by the MCI that all professors must have at least four research publications to their credit. However, professors and practising doctors claim that their busy work schedules leave them with no time for research.
Dr Manish Kumar, an ear nose and throat surgeon at the Government ENT Hospital said, “This rule was formulated to ensure that practising doctors carry out research and keep themselves updated. But due to work pressure, most of them have not been able to do so. But that cannot be taken as a valid reason as there are many medical journals which accept local research and are willing to share it.”
A group of professors sought an exemption and in the united state of Andhra Pradesh it was granted till August 2014. However, health secretaries felt that the MCI rule must be followed.
A senior officer said, “The health secretaries always cited this rule when the promotions of professors was brought up. They felt research was important and.”
Given this scenario, promotions are done on an ad hoc basis but most of them have been stalled citing this lacuna.
A senior doctor said, “I have been working as an assistant professor since last the 11 years. I was supposed to be promoted after five years, but that has not happened due to this rule.”