Doctors' anomalous gradation list

Will we ever get our basics right? Delving for an answer to this question is likely to yield a terse statement: perhaps only when conflicting group interests will cease to blur the vision for professional integrity demanding straightforward application of time-honoured normative criteria. The gradation list brought out by the health ministry on May 11 this year which is supposed to be based on inter-se seniority of doctors in government employ for the purpose of promotion and posting has been found to be flawed on many counts.
It is observed that cadre and non-cadre doctors and those who have never served the government have been included in the list. Those who are serving at private or autonomous bodies or have been abroad for long are placed on the list. In extreme cases, persons who have died or gone on LPR appear on the list.
How controversial the gradation list is, can be gauged from the fact that inclusion of 1,362 non-cadre doctors has affected the seniority of many cadre officials. The cadre and non-cadre doctors have been put in a conflicting situation which is likely to impact adversely the morale and performance of the health service personnel. As it is, the public health services are beset with problems of divisiveness and politicisation, and to top it off, if inter-se seniority of doctors is not determined on a fair basis then we are looking at a hugely detrimental set of administrative, professional and service delivery issues in an important sector.
This gradation list unsurprisingly drawing sharp reaction from BCS (Health) Cadre Association who has demanded its cancellation, the health ministry has formed a committee to probe their complaints. The committee formed in early July has yet to start working.
In hindsight, gradation list has never been finalised. The first list approved in 1974 didn't see the light of day. Then two decades on, the gradation list that was prepared was 80 per cent faulty with wrong information. The 2008 attempt to prepare a list floundered on the rock of cadre and non-cadre discords. It is pretty much the same tale again. However, we believe it is important that the review being undertaken of the latest gradation list will help clear the course for a broad-based gradation list of doctors in the government employ that is based on professionalism, impartiality and service records.