SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 31: Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH), a state-run institution in Dhanbad, plunged into a major faculty crisis on Friday with the retirement of five senior professors, including the principal.
The departing faculty members include three professors and two associate professors, leaving a significant gap in the institution’s academic and medical leadership.
Among those who retired are Principal Prof. (Dr.) KK Lal, former Principal Prof. (Dr.) Jyotiranjan Prasad, Head of the Orthopaedics Department Prof. (Dr.) DP Bhushan, former Superintendent Dr. Anil Kumar (Associate Professor, Surgery), and Dr. Tarak Baxla (Associate Professor, Surgery).
Additionally, Prof. (Dr.) Ashutosh Kumar from the ENT department is set to retire tomorrow, further exacerbating the faculty shortage.
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Grand Farewell for Retiring Professors
A farewell ceremony was held at the college to honor the contributions of the retiring professors. Superintendent Prof. (Dr.) SK Chourasia, senior-most professor Prof. (Dr.) UK Ojha, and other faculty members highlighted their role in shaping SNMMCH, which has gained recognition in the state for securing 100 MBBS seats and launching postgraduate courses.
Prof. (Dr.) KK Lal had joined SNMMCH as principal in September 2024, transferring from Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital (MGMMCH), Jamshedpur.
Prof. (Dr.) Jyotiranjan Prasad, who previously served as Principal of MMCH Palamu, took over as SNMMCH’s principal in 2022.
Deepening Faculty Crisis Amid Existing Shortage
SNMMCH was already facing a 35% faculty shortage as per National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines. The retirement of these senior professors has now placed the institution in an even deeper crisis, leaving key positions vacant in several departments.
With their departure, the posts of professor in the Eye Department (Dr. KK Lal), Pathology Department (Dr. Jyotiranjan Prasad), Orthopaedics Department (Dr. DP Bhushan), and ENT Department (Dr. Ashutosh Kumar) remain unfilled. This shortage could impact both academic activities and patient care at the hospital.
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Uncertainty Over New Principal Appointment
Despite the retirement of Principal Dr. KK Lal, the state health department had not issued a notification regarding his successor as of late evening.
A faculty member indicated that the role of principal-in-charge is likely to be assigned based on seniority, with either Superintendent Dr. SK Chourasia or Head of the Medicine Department Dr. UK Ojha expected to take over the position.
