Shimla: The state Health Department has denied permission to 40 resident doctors to take the All-India Medical Examination for super-specialty degree courses this year. The last date to fill in the application form is April 30.

Members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said that IGMC-Shimla, Government Medical College, Tanda, and four new colleges at Nerchowk, Hamirpur, Chamba and Nahan were dealing with an acute shortage of super-specialists. Setting up of a super-specialty block at the IGMC and AIIMS at Bilaspur would add to the already existing shortage.

Sources stated that super-specialists from the IGMC had been sent to medical colleges being run on ad hoc basis on deputation. The United Resident Doctors’ Association of India has supported the demand of the RDAs, Himachal, that a liberal policy should be followed by the government for its doctors so that they can pursue higher courses.

Dr Ajay Jaryal, President, RDA, IGMC, said that in spite of repeated requests to the Chief Minister and Health Minister for formulating a PG/DM policy for doctors enabling them to pursue higher courses, nothing has been done.

PrincipaI, IGMC, Dr Ravi Sharma, said that permission to take the entrance exam for DM and other courses was given by the Health Department. Doctors fulfilling all conditions and having completed four-five years of service in the state were granted permission. He mentioned that the IGMC had no role in this.

The applicants requested that the government should relax the four-year service condition, considering that there was a shortage of super-specialists in the state.