Retirement age of Army Medical Staff should be raised to 65:VK Singh

Pune, Feb 9 (UNI) With the Army Medical Services reaching out more and more to the civilians, pressure on the existing manpower has increased and therefore there is a need to raise the retirement age of the Army Medical Staff to 65 years, Director General Of Armed Forces Medical Services, Vice Admiral V K Singh said here today.

Talking to reporters at the conclusion of the 55th Annual Medical Research Conference, Vice Admiral Singh said that this move will greatly benefit the society. ''there is a lot of energy still to work when a 58-year-old serviceman becomes a pensioner. This has worked in China. We are inviting a Chinese Doctor who is 85 years old and still fit, we can follow likewise,'' he said.

To a query regarding whether many Army Doctors are waiting to leave the service, the Vice-Admiral denied the report and said that those going were routine retirements. Besides, he said that the Government was looking at the Promotions Policy and only then a clearer picture would emerge, he said.

On the status of AIDS cases, the Vice Admiral said but no fresh cases have been reported since 37 cases of HIV have been reported in the services last year. In the past three years the cases have been on the decline and from 300 HIV cases, the figure is now 37, he said.

To a query, he said that none of the patients have lost their jobs, although when any patient tests AIDS positive, the patient has to leave the service.

The Government has santioned Rs 500 crore to upgrade equipment at all military hospitals. Every hospital will have the same equipment and facility, he said.

UNI