Pune:The proposed reduction in teaching posts across govt medical colleges in Maharashtra has triggered strong opposition from medical teachers. The Maharashtra State Medical Teachers Association (MSMTA) cautioned that the move could affect both medical education and patient care at B.J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital.According to the association, the department of Medical Education and Drugs has prepared a revised staffing pattern for teaching departments, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, and community medicine. The revised pattern will result in the reduction of 158 teaching posts across various cadres in the state.Dr Sanjaykumar Tambe, president of MSMTA, said, “At B.J. Government Medical College, Pune, about 31 teaching posts thats of 6 professors, 12 associate professors, and 13 assistant professors have been reduced. The proposed reduction will put additional pressure on the existing faculty, which is already handling undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, patient-care services, and administrative responsibilities.”A press statement issued by the association said the impact would extend beyond classrooms and academic activities, as teachers at the govt medical college are also involved in clinical services at Sassoon General Hospital. Faculty members are required to balance teaching responsibilities with clinical services and additional administrative duties.“The existing teaching staff is already insufficient to meet the requirements of teaching, patient care, and administrative work,” Dr Tambe said, arguing that the institution needs additional teaching posts rather than a reduction.The revised staffing pattern has reportedly been prepared on the basis of the minimum standards prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), which regulates all medical colleges in the country. However, the teachers’ association has questioned whether minimum staffing norms are adequate.
