The Assam government has introduced a new policy to provide faculty and officials in the state's medical colleges with facilities equivalent to those offered at AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences). This initiative, approved by the state cabinet on Sunday, aims to attract and retain talented doctors in Assam by offering enhanced benefits and career opportunities. The policy is specifically designed to address the shortage of specialist doctors and faculty members in Assam's medical colleges.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Assam cabinet has taken several key decisions to improve the working conditions and career prospects of medical college faculty and officials. During a press conference following the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister stated, "In today's Assam Cabinet meeting, we have taken an important decision to empower our senior faculties and officials of medical colleges through assured career progression, academic support, and other benefits. These policies are comparable to those offered by AIIMS and will help retain talent in Assam."
The new policy includes the following provisions for professors and faculty members of Assam's medical colleges:
Car Loan Facility: When a doctor joins a medical college as a registrar or faculty member, the state government will facilitate a car loan through a bank in addition to their salary. While the principal amount will be deducted from the salary, the interest will be covered by the state government.
Assured Career Promotion Scheme:The state cabinet has approved a career progression plan for professors in Assam's medical colleges, ensuring structured growth opportunities.
National and International Seminars:
Doctors will be permitted to attend two national-level seminars annually, with the state government reimbursing their travel and accommodation expenses.
Every two years, they will have the opportunity to attend a seminar in any Asian country, with all expenses covered by the state government.
Every three years, they can participate in academic seminars in America or Europe, with the state government covering all associated costs.
These facilities, which are already available at AIIMS, will now be extended to Assam's medical colleges, making the job benefits for faculty and officials on par with those at AIIMS.
Currently, Assam has 13 partially and fully functional government medical colleges. While the total number of MBBS seats in these colleges has increased to 1,200, the state continues to face a significant shortage of specialist doctors and faculty members. According to data from the State Directorate of Health Services, 174 doctors left government jobs in Assam between 2019 and 2024, with 98 opting for voluntary retirement and 76 resigning. Additionally, 64 doctors resigned from Assam's medical colleges between 2021 and 2023.
The new policy is expected to address these challenges by making teaching positions in Assam's medical colleges more attractive and competitive, thereby helping to retain skilled medical professionals in the state.