On Jul 28, 2013, at 8:17 AM, Aires Rodrigues <[email protected]> wrote:
The Goa Government has decided to raise the retirement age of doctors at Goa Medical College from 62 to 65. One of the first beneficiary of this kind gesture by the Goa Government will be my friend of many years, the Professor of Radiology Dr. Mahesh Sardesai who was due to retire in February 2014 COMMENT: I do not really wish to comment on the automatic tie-in conclusion reached by Aires. Not very sure many folks in Goa take Aires seriously anymore EVEN IF he might be making a valid point. His histrionics vis-à-vis the Newton case, his public identification of the minor German girl and the attempted harassment of the Scarlette mom was enough to totally disgust me. Personally, I believe that it is a blessing that Aires has thus far failed to get elected to ANY type of office. It can be very dangerous to give power to such individuals. I often sat to myself: OK, Mr Parrikar has made some strange U-turns and other decisions, BUT has he NOT made ANY good decisions? How is it we do not hear about them? But, I did digress from the original point of this post: In point format: 1: All over the world, the age of retirement from public service is going up. Not only does this reduce the amount of pensions payable, it also takes into account that individuals are living longer. Not too long ago, the retirement age was 55. 2: It is smart policy for institutions (public as well as private) to hold on to (rehire if necessary) specialty-qualified individuals who are also high performing. The practice of medicine is one of apprenticeship. I understand that the younger and possibly impatient docs wish to also have the opportunity to be chiefs. Experience is not a disposable commodity. Promotion should come gradually. Patient care is more than just book-knowledge, even in a field like Radiology. 3: There is a recurrent and senseless mistake that successive Goa Ministers of Health are making: Preventing GMC doctors from engaging in private practice. My own knowledge of some of my Goan Profs, Asst Profs and SMOs at GMC is that they almost invariably had private practices after hours. I can attest to the fact that each one of them gave 200% to us students and to the public patients. They had a certain professional pride which the Bandodkar regime eventually destroyed by interfering in the running of GMC. This destruction of the professional pride was aided and abetted by those 'bhaille' Profs etc who were unlikely to succeed in private practice in Goa (did not speak the language or know the customs). So they engaged in Interpersonal Politics and Dog in the Manger policies. ( I will not be able to succeed in private practice ....You won't do it either). Hear me, Mr Goa Min of Health. IF you really want GMC to regenerate from the Dump it now is, appoint an independent committee to hire qualified staff (part time / sessional) from the private sector and HOLD ON to good, efficient and patient friendly staff - even if it means allowing them some part time after hours private practice. YES ...if there is abuse, FIRE them. After that STOP this nonsense of ICU admissions for politicians who do not need ICU care. If they need nonICU care, allow them the experience of becoming like Pope Francis ie Experience Life everyone else experiences. jc
