Director for medical education post lies vacant

Mumbai: For more than six months now, the post of director for medical education and major civic hospitals has been lying vacant. Ever since Dr Avinash Supe retired as the dean of KEM Hospital and director of all major civic hospitals, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has not appointed any new director.

The major civic hospitals include KEM hospital, Sion hospital, Nair hospital and Cooper hospital. Currently, the additional charge is with the deputy municipal commissioner (health) Sunil Dhamane.

According to the BMC Employees’ Union, the BMC administration is intentionally not appointing the new director on the lines of caste reservation.

Sanjay Kamble, general secretary of the BMC SC, ST, VJNT, SBC, OBC employees’ union said, “The BMC administration is very biased about caste. They are intentionally delaying the appointment to such a crucial position.”

“The medical services are affected due to politics in administration. The DMC is selected from the MPSC and is good in administration but is not a medical expert,” said Mr Kamble.

Meanwhile, Dr Ramesh Bharmal, who is currently the dean of Nair hospital, is due for promotion as director of all major civic hospitals.

However, DMC Dhamane said, “It is due to the model code of conduct that the appointment of director is delayed”.

BMC health committee chairman Amey Ghole, on the hand, said, “We could not take up the proposal due to elections. In the first week of June, we will take up the proposal.”