The shortage of teachers in government medical colleges in the state has been a topic of discussion for long. Whenever the members of the medical council came to conduct the inspection, the college officials used to bring in teachers temporarily just as a face-saving act. However, sometimes, the temporary assignment of teachers failed to do the trick and the medical council showed their wrath by cutting medical seats and cancelling the recognition of new batches.

With the introduction of more medical colleges in the government sector, the shortage of faculties also became an issue of concern. The newly opened medical colleges like Konni, Kollam and Manjeri had to stop their operations mainly due to a shortage of teachers. The government's approach is to demand more medical seats on the one hand and not appoint enough teachers on the other hand. In the report published a few days ago, Kerala Kaumudi pointed out the shortage of teachers in government medical colleges. It is not just one or two seats that are remaining unfilled but as big as 344 vacancies are still left out in the open with no answer.

The cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Kollam on the sidelines of the NKS event decided to grant 270 new posts including 262 teaching posts of doctors in medical colleges. With this decision, 42 super speciality departments will soon start work. Kasaragod, an often neglected region has been sanctioned by the government for a medical college only in recent times after a long clamour from the people. However, the newly inaugurated medical college did not much difference to the people, as the hospital lacked even the basic amenities and staggering to say, even the medical college ran bereft of a principal.

And now, after long neglect, new posts to strengthen important departments have also been allotted. Adequate teaching posts were allocated in the newly established colleges. A large number of teachers are going to be appointed to facilitate the functioning of medical colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Konni, Ernakulam, Idukki and Kannur. Konni, Idukki, Manjeri and Kasaragod Medical Colleges are functioning nominally. The shortage of teachers has also affected the children studying here. The decision to start a new department of genetics in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College for the study and treatment of genetic diseases will also benefit common people.

One of the major reasons for the neglect of government medical college hospitals is the emergence of large medical centres in the private sector across the state. Even people not financially in their best state, borrow money to seek treatment from private hospitals. This is due to the appalling lack of standards in government hospitals.

Accordingly, government intervention is required to increase treatment facilities not only in medical colleges but also in other government hospitals.