New Delhi: A Controversy has erupted over the decision by Delhi government-run Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH) to add an eligibility criteria, Masters in Health Administration (MHA), a non-medical degree, for the recruitment of Medical Officers. Raising eyebrow over the alleged new rule the medical fraternity and the staff allege that this recruitment rule is not followed by other hospitals in the national capital. The said rule is likely to see stiff opposition from medical fraternity and staff. It is being alleged that the new rule has been implemented to benefit certain individuals contravening the government mandate. Also to tweek the existing rules permission to change the recruitment rule for the post had to be sought from National Medical Commission or the state medical council. Hospital staff have questioned the administration’s move to overlook higher medical degrees like MD and MCh, which certify advanced medical expertise, for the job while making a non-medical degree mandatory. A resident doctors’ body said, “This policy not only disregards the advanced medical expertise of these candidates but also jeopardizes patient care.”
Responding to the allegations, Dr Ashish Goyal, the acting Medical Director of the hospital said the decision was approved by the governing council of the hospital with no intent to benefit any individual. “All the claims are rubbish and made by a group with vested interests. We are an autonomous institution and can make our own recruitment rules. The eligibility criteria was added as per the decision by the governing council approved by previous directors. I’m only implementing it,” he said. When asked why specialised medical degree holders are ineligible for the job, Goyal said the post caters to administrative affairs hence, making MHA mandatory was a logical move. “I’m not diluting the eligibility criteria but making it more technical so that specialists can be hired to manage hospital administration. Besides, everything was done in accordance with the rules,” he added.
However, senior officials opposing the move at the hospital said the RGSSH is a government-funded hospital, and any changes to recruitment rules might need approval from the Delhi Government’s Health and Family Welfare Department. “MHA is a non-medical qualification, and its addition to eligibility criteria might require NMC approval. While the governing council has some autonomy, it is unlikely that they can unilaterally add a degree to the eligibility criteria without seeking approval,” an official said.