Merit posts, infra boost: MLAs’ demand after Swathya Bhawan visit

Kolkata: Nine BJP MLAs trooped into the state health headquarters in Salt Lake on Monday with a mission to help improve healthcare delivery and the medical education system in Bengal. Sources said all nine are doctors sent as envoys by CM Suvendu Adhikari to work with health officials to transform the healthcare system. From a transparent and fair education system to transfer policies, the team discussed relevant issues and submitted its proposal to the principal health secretary.Zero tolerance to corruption and nepotism, merit-based posting of senior residents, transparent posting policies for senior doctors, strengthening the health infrastructure, ending ‘syndicate Raj', filling up vacancies — doctors, nurses, technicians, group D — were among the issues discussed. A fair recruitment procedure and transparency in procurement equipment and other hospital essentials were also discussed."We discussed four verticals broadly that encompass medical education, health services, junior doctors/medical students, and private sector hospitals and medical colleges. We submitted a number of proposals," said oncologist Sharadwat Mukherjee, BJP MLA from Bidhanangar.Sources said one of the proposals by MLA team was to strictly follow merit-based counselling for posting of senior residents (SR). The previous govt did away with merit-based counselling a few months ago, resulting in a huge number of SRs quitting."The CM directed us to help keep hospital, healthcare delivery and medical education free from corruption, nepotism and syndicate Raj," said oncologist Indranil Khan, MLA from Behala West. "It was a fruitful meeting," said orthopaedic surgeon Arup Kumar Das, Singur MLA.Sources said the proposals are likely to reach the CM's office by Wednesday. The meeting was attended by principal secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam and other officials.