The authorities initiated a move to recruit 326 officers in 12 batches in the last six years since 2000 but only 154 were qualified and commissioned into AMC, sources said.

Moreover, a significant number of senior officers and specialists on various subjects are scheduled to retire in the next five years.

Amid the prevailing situation, many fear that for the first time in its 35 years AMC will face an acute crisis of doctors in five years if the present situation is not improved.

Sources said doctors are not interested to join the service due to 'poor financial benefits' comparing to the benefits in the civil service or even in other wings of the army.

At present there is a total of 872 officers in AMC against a requirement of 1,075 posts, sources said adding that 208 of the officers including 109 specialists are scheduled to retire in the next five years.

"Most of the officers are scheduled to retire between 2008 and 2010 and some will retire this year," said a source.

Considering the crisis of doctors, Armed Forces Medical College was established under the defence ministry and under direct supervision of the Armed Forces Division in 1999, but AMC has yet to get expected result from it.

Discussing the matter at a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on defence ministry last year, Director General of Medical Services (DGMS), Major General MA Moyeed Siddiqui expressed his concern over the prevailing situation in AMC.

"Only 14 doctors were qualified in the ISSB (Inter Services Selection Board) test against the requirement of 50 doctors in 2004. Of the 14 doctors, four has left. We need to take the possible crisis into cognisance which might occur in five or seven years if the present situation continues," the committee report placed in the parliament this year quoted the DGMS as saying in the meeting.

Echoing the same view, a senior officer said the situation has not improved in the last one year.

"Doctors are not interested to join the service as benefits in the army medical corps cannot attract them. Besides, scopes for higher education for the officers have apparently been halted," a senior officer in AMC told The Daily Star wishing anonymity.

"Amid such a situation, the demand for doctors in the medical corps is increasing day by day, but no significant measure has so far been taken," he said.

Delays in promotions for the officers in AMC compared to other corps in the army have also created frustration among the officers, a senior officer said.

"The officers in the medical corps, who are getting late promotions, are also missing the scope to join the UN peacekeeping mission," he said.

Sources said among the 109 officers including three major generals and specialists, who are scheduled to retire by 2011, are 19 specialists on medicine, 2 specialists on radiology, 14 specialists on gynaecology, 9 specialists on pathology, 8 specialists on anaesthesia, 3 specialists on orthopaedics, 7 specialists on army health, 7 specialists on child care, 5 specialists on skin care, 4 specialists on psychiatry and 4 specialists on aerospace medicine.

"At least 12 years are needed to make an officer a specialist on any particular subject. But now there is no significant move for specialisation of the officers," a senior officer said.

The percentage of commissioning officers into AMC in respect to its demand have been decreasing each year over the last six years since January 2000, sources said.

Only 28 officers were commissioned into AMC in two batches in 2000 against a demand for 50 officers. In 2001, 37 officers were commissioned in two batches against a demand for 58 officers. In 2002, 47 officers were commissioned in two batches against a demand for 78 officers. In 2003, 27 officers were commissioned in two batches against a demand for 40. In 2004, 12 officers were commissioned in two batches against a demand for 50 and in 2005 only three officers were commissioned into AMC against a demand for 50 officers.

Sources said against a demand for 50 officers, only 21 joined training in the first batch in January 2006 and they are expected to get commissions next September. "But we don't know how many will remain finally," a senior officer said.