HYDERABAD: In the backdrop of lacunae exposed by Covid-19, Indian Medical Association (IMA) has stressed on the need for a focussed medical administrative service and demanded Indian Medical Service (IMS) be established on the lines of IAS, IPS and IRS in the country.
The idea is basically to allow MBBS graduates to chose between a super-specialty course or an administrative service. Currently, in government hospitals, doctors are given an additional charge of administrative work, while in the private sector, hospitals employ MBA graduates to do marketing. “We are suggesting that IMS be brought in and made compulsory for both the sectors. One of the major learning from the pandemic is that healthcare industry needs both humanity and profit-making skills,” Indian Medical Association (IMA), Telangana, general secretary Sanjeev Singh Yadav said.
Also read: Govt releases advisory on judicious use of remdesivir
Healthcare industry insiders believe having an MBBS graduate trained in administration would equip them better to handle a crisis like Covid-19 in future as compared to a civil servant. “In fact, there was a plan to have this kind of a system in the state previously, but it has not taken off,” admitted a senior health official.
Also, coordination issues and carrying out directives of the Centre by the state government can be sorted out by a centralised administrative service. “IMS can bridge the gap between decisions taken by the government and delivery of the health service. However, we will need both IMS as well as civil service to complement each other,” Dr P Raghuram, chairman, academic advisory board of Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), the board that oversees PG diploma course in healthcare management.
The Health Master is now on Telegram. For latest update on health and Pharmaceuticals, subscribe to The Health Master on Telegram.
