Telangana Launches “You Quote We Pay” Scheme to Tackle Faculty Shortage

In an effort to combat a critical shortage of senior faculty in government medical colleges, the Telangana health secretary has approved a proposal from the Director of Medical Education (DME) to implement the “You Quote We Pay” scheme. This initiative, developed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), aims to recruit associate professors and professors by allowing them to negotiate their salaries.

The proposal, which will be submitted to the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare, responds to the urgent need for qualified medical educators in Telangana. The state has faced scrutiny from the NMC due to significant faculty shortages that have arisen following the rapid expansion of teaching hospitals.

Innovative Recruitment Strategy

Under the “You Quote We Pay” model, prospective faculty members can negotiate their remuneration, a departure from the traditional government practice of fixed salaries based on established pay scales. This flexibility is intended to help states attract specialists in high-demand areas.

Dr. A. Narendra Kumar, the Director of Medical Education, explained that recruitment into the DME cadre typically begins at the assistant professor level, while associate professor and professor positions are usually filled through promotions. “Recently, around 300 doctors were promoted as professors, and we are also in the process of recruiting 2,000 assistant professors,” he noted. Of these, results for 607 positions will be announced soon, while approximately 1,300 posts remain in the pipeline.

Despite these efforts, Dr. Narendra Kumar emphasized the ongoing challenge of filling associate professor roles. “We now have professors and assistant professors, but there is a gap at the associate professor level,” he stated, highlighting the need for innovative policies to attract external faculty.

Targeting High-Demand Specialties

The government has identified several specialties facing nationwide shortages, including anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology. Under the new scheme, the government plans to offer higher consolidated pay to attract qualified candidates. For example, if a professor currently earns around INR 200,000, the government may set a cap at INR 600,000. Eligible associate professors or professors will then be able to quote their remuneration, with the lowest bid being selected for the position.

Dr. Narendra Kumar mentioned that proposals are prepared, targeting specialties such as radiology, cardiology, neurology, anatomy, and pediatrics, which are in high demand but have limited supply. He also indicated that the NMC is likely to endorse this recruitment model, particularly as attendance data from the Aadhaar-based Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) shows that faculty shortages are negatively impacting student attendance.

“It is important to note that this scheme will not be implemented across all medical colleges; it will be rolled out initially in 10 medical colleges where there is an urgent need,” Dr. Narendra Kumar explained.

As Telangana moves forward with this innovative approach, the state hopes to not only fill critical faculty vacancies but also improve the quality of medical education available to students. By embracing flexibility in remuneration, the government aims to attract top talent to its medical colleges, ultimately benefiting healthcare delivery in the region.