Why Cadre Merger is a Bad Idea? Medical Colleges in Turmoil!

The State Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers (SAMDCOT) expresses deep disapproval and concern over the recently proposed cadre merger policy across all medical colleges in the state. This policy, if implemented, will create administrative chaos, destabilize faculty structures, and most critically, compromise patient care, which is the cornerstone of medical institutions.

SAMDCOT firmly believes that this decision will have grave consequences for healthcare services, faculty morale, and medical education standards. Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and other premier institutions have built their reputations over years of dedicated service, and this proposed policy threatens to dismantle that legacy.

Key Concerns Regarding the Cadre Merger Policy

1. Patient Care at Risk

The foremost priority of any medical institution is quality patient care. The proposed cadre merger will disrupt faculty hierarchies, weaken institutional commitment, and reduce accountability in patient management. Such instability can directly affect treatment outcomes, putting patients at risk.

2. Faculty Seniority & Stability Undermined

Different recruitment norms across medical colleges mean that faculty seniority will be disrupted.
Experienced professors at IGMC and other premier institutions have dedicated years to building their academic and clinical careers, often refusing transfers elsewhere. This policy fails to recognize their contributions and loyalty.
Forced transfers will demoralize faculty members, impacting teaching efficiency and mentorship quality for medical students.

3. Negative Impact on Research & Medical Advancements

IGMC has a long-standing legacy of pioneering research that has significantly contributed to medical advancements.
Faculty-led research projects could suffer setbacks due to abrupt faculty transfers, leading to discontinuity in research work and loss of academic progress.
The cadre merger policy jeopardizes the institution’s status as a center of excellence in research and innovation.

4. Decline in Medical Education Quality & Student Intake

PG and MBBS students choose IGMC for its distinguished faculty and clinical exposure.
If the policy is implemented, institutional reputation will suffer, making it less attractive to NEET PG aspirants and reducing the intake of top-tier medical students.
A decline in student preference will result in lower academic competitiveness, reducing overall medical education quality in the state.

5. Faculty Demotivation & Administrative Instability

Workplace instability caused by forced transfers will leave faculty members demotivated and disconnected from their institutions.
This will impact both teaching and patient care, leading to a decline in the overall performance of medical colleges.
Faculty members who have built their careers in specific institutions will lose their sense of belonging and professional satisfaction.

6. Lack of Facilities in Other Medical Colleges

Several state medical colleges lack essential infrastructure, equipment, and postgraduate programs.
Transferring experienced faculty to such under-equipped institutions will reduce the quality of medical education and training, further weakening the healthcare system.

7. Impact on NEET PG Counselling & Doctors’ Careers

The state government already has rigid policies, such as the three-year bond or ₹40 lakh bond for PG students, which discourage medical graduates from staying in state institutions.
The cadre merger will further deter students from choosing medical colleges in the state, exacerbating the problem of doctor shortages in government hospitals.

8. Loss of Non-Practice Allowance & Faculty Disincentivization

The government’s withdrawal of the non-practice allowance (NPA) for doctors in rural and peripheral areas is a major setback.
This, coupled with forced transfers under the cadre merger policy, will further discourage qualified doctors from staying in government service.

SAMDCOT’s Stand: Urgent Reconsideration Needed

The Faculty Association of IGMC and Dental College Shimla, under the leadership of Sr. Balbir Verma (President, SAMDCOT) and Dr. Piyush Kapila (General Secretary, SAMDCOT), strongly opposes this ill-advised policy.

We urge the government to:
✅ Engage in discussions with all stakeholders before implementing any structural changes.
✅ Strengthen existing institutions by improving infrastructure and increasing financial incentives for faculty.
✅ Focus on faculty retention, research promotion, and patient care rather than disrupting a system that has been functioning effectively for years.

This cadre merger policy will not lead to progress but will instead destabilize the healthcare system, affecting patients, doctors, and future medical professionals alike. SAMDCOT stands united in demanding that the government withdraw this proposal and adopt a more constructive approach to healthcare and medical education development.