Hyderabad: Doctors in government medical colleges and officials of the State Health Department are in a fix as nearly 30 senior super specialist doctors with abundant experience in surgeries, medical procedures and teaching are going to retire by the end of this year.

Super speciality medical services, such as organ transplantations in prominent government hospitals are likely to be affected, besides the medicos losing out on the opportunity of gaining knowledge from the specialists. Retaining post-graduate seats in government medical colleges might become difficult if there are not enough experienced Heads of Departments.

Senior doctors working at government hospitals and officials in the health department stated that time is crucial if the State government intends to address the issue. They added that private medical colleges would begin competing with each other to recruit the retiring super specialists by offering them plentiful remunerations.

The associate professors cannot be elevated to professors as promotions were already granted a few months ago. Top sources in the department mentioned that in several speciality departments, there are no eligible candidates that can be promoted as professors. It will take at least two more years for them to become eligible for a professor’s post.

The issue can also pose hindrance in the way of government’s efforts to improve medical services in the state and raise the number of medical seats in colleges.

Dr DVSRK Prasad, Head of Urology department at Osmania Medical College is well known for his expertise in kidney transplantations. He is set to retire on February 28 and reportedly, there are no eligible candidates to take his place. Another professor is set to retire from the Urology department at Gandhi Hospital in May 2019.

Last year, more than 50 faculty members had retired. So, the situation is not new to the health department.

Members of the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) have submitted a representation to the Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department, A Santhi Kumari, urging re-appointment of professors set to retire, on a contractual basis, in departments where there is requirement.