Retirement age of medical teachers, doctors enhanced in Bengal

Faced with a shortage in state-run hospitals, the West Bengal government today raised the retirement age of medical teachers from 62 to 65 years and doctors from 60 to 62 years.
"The decision has been taken in a cabinet meeting to meet the growing need of senior medical professionals, when the number of medical colleges and multi-super-speciality hospitals are increasing in the state," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters.
Eight new medical college hospitals have been sanctioned already.
While five of the new hospitals at government initiative were coming up at Coochbehar, Diamond Harbour, Rampurhat, Purulia and Raiganj, the remaining three were being set up in PPP model at Bhangar, Dhubulia and Coochbehar, Banerjee said.

Besides, 40 multi-super-speciality hospitals would also come up soon with tenders already been opened, Banerjee said.
With the completion of these hospitals, the state would get more ICCU, ITU and CCU accommodation, she said.
The total number of beds has already been increased to over 10,000 and total number of seats in MBBS course from 1,300 to 1,700.
With the development of medical infrastructure in the state, the chief minister said that a new generation of medical professionals would also get opportunity to improve their career prospects.