Sorry state of affairs at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram

To, 2nd December 2008
Shri Kapil Sibal,
The Hon'ble Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences,
Government of India,
New Delhi.

Respected Sir,

We, the resident doctors of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram have been constrained to write to you about the sorry state of affairs currently prevailing in the Institute due to the whims of a particular individual. We consider ourselves very fortunate in being given an opportunity to work and learn in an Institute of this caliber. We have over time begun to feel that we do not have a mechanism to ventilate and redress our problems in the Institute. However with the recent autocratic decision taken by the Director to not implement the Sixth Pay commission recommendations for resident doctors, especially the due arrears, we feel impelled to approach the highest levels of government in order to preserve the character and rich traditions of this Institute.
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The Sixth Pay commission has in conjunction with its recommendations for other government employees revised pay package for resident doctors working in institutions under the Government of India. These have already been implemented at other medical institutions of national importance such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. We have brought this to the attention of the academic division of the Institute including the Director. Despite repeated personal assurances the pay commission recommendations have been implemented for all employees other than resident doctors. On more than one occasion the administration has in fact taken umbrage that we have chosen to take this issue up in the first place. At our meeting with the Director on 02/12/2008 we were subject to immense humiliation. You would appreciate that we entered the portals of this hallowed institution through a national competitive examination. It is only natural that the institution has inbuilt safeguards against the whims and fancies of individuals.
As individuals who have now more than ten years of medical education behind them we have increasing family commitments which involve substantial financial outlay. As such our current levels of pay are inadequate in relation to meeting basic needs. Since other medical institutions within the country have implemented the recommendations of the pay commission we feel the lack of response on the part of the administration at Sree Chitra is in violation of the principles of natural justice.

Further illustration of the absolute callousness with which its current head administers the institute are furnished below for your kind information

Residents do not enjoy medical benefits. In fact, Sree Chitra has the dubious reputation of charging even its own residents for medical benefits availed at the Institute, a practice that would put even private medical hospitals to shame.

We have brought the kind attention of the Director of the Institute that resident doctors in the Institute do not have a book allowance. This is again disparate to the practice at All India Institute and the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
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The canteen facility at the Institute is abysmal with inconvenient timings. Most residents work 12- 14 hour days and often 36 hours at a stretch. We do so with the belief that as young individuals the Institute offers us unique opportunities in learning and also that we have an opportunity to further the highest levels of clinical care that our founder Director envisioned. We do however think that it is incumbent on the administration to work out mechanisms to address basic needs such as an appropriate eating facility.
In an era driven by information technology the Institute does not have access to electronic libraries- AIIMS , PGIMER and even state health administrations have taken innovative steps to provide these facilities to medical students. Library timings are often inappropriate and library facilities are grossly under-utilised.
The Institute has not formulated a uniform requirement for award of its postdoctoral degrees. Individual departments have a roughly hewn programme to encourage student research but there is neither funding nor initiative at the Institutional level.

We believe that as the Institute prepares to change hands, these issues be brought to the attention of the highest levels of governance within the Institute. It does not need too much observational acumen to see how India’s public health system is repeatedly deserted by its brightest students. It is only probable that the administration of these Institutes of otherwise unimaginable potential is largely responsible, failing the nations’ brightest minds and the society at large. It is also unfortunate that a single individual can brazenly vitiate the harmonious relationship between teachers and students in a unique institution. We therefore pray that you initiate urgent action to prevent further deterioration in the working atmosphere at the Institute.

Thanking you,
Yours sincerely

Postdoctoral resident doctors of SCTIMST, Thiruvananthapuram.



Cc
1. The Hon’ble President of India
2. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
3. Shri Lal Krishna Advani, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
4. Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
5. The Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India
6. Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
7. Dr RK Srivastava, Director General Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India
8. Dr EP Yashodharan, Exec Vice President KSCSTE
9. Dr. Baldev Raj, Director IGCAR
10. Dr. K A Dinshaw, Director Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai
11. The Director, SCTIMST
12. Dr MS Valiathan , National Research Professor
13. Dr GS Bhuvaneshwar, Head BMT Wing SCTIMST
14. Prof R Sankar Kumar, Prof Dept of CVTS, SCTIMST.