CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association (TNMOA) has opposed the move of the Directorate of Medical Education for surrendering seven paediatrician posts in various medical colleges to create seven neonatologist posts for the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and New Born Care services.

The seven assistant professor posts from paediatrics, one each from the Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Government Vellore Medical College Hospital, Government Madurai Medical College, Government Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital and two from the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, Salem, were proposed for surrender.

These doctors were diverted to various Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and New Born Care services in medical colleges in the state as neonatologists.

The DME said in its letter that posts of assistant professors in the speciality of paediatrics were identified as excess as per the National Medical Commission norms.

TNMOA said in a statement that in the last two years, 56 primary health centres medical officers, and over 1,000 specialist posts were reduced under the pretext of redeployment.

This is against the people and doctors, it said. The association has urged the CM to intervene and stop reducing manpower for the welfare of the people.