The Association of Medical Biochemists Kerala chapter and Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) have protested against the “arbitrary” decision of the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) to include non-medical Biochemistry postgraduates in the written examination and selection process for appointment towards the posts of Assistant Professor in Biochemistry in government medical colleges in the State.
The PSC, after issuing hall tickets for the written examination on October 14, 2025, for direct recruitment of Assistant Professor in Biochemistry, had on the eve of the exam announced the sudden cancellation of the exam. It stated that non-medical Biochemistry candidates too had to be given a chance for participating in the selection process, going by the latest National Medical Commission (NMC) qualification fixed for the same post.
The qualification and method of appointment of faculty under the medical education services are fixed as per a government order (GO(MS) No.14/2013/H & FWD Dt. 22.01.2013), which states that the appointment of assistant professors will be by direct recruitment through the PSC and that the qualifications for the post will be a medical postgraduate degree such as MD/MS from a recognised university in the discipline concerned.
PSC’s notification for the general direct recruitment of Assistant Professor in Biochemistry on June 17, 2025 had also stated the qualifications as MD/DNB in Biochemistry, one-year experience as Senior Resident in Biochemistry, and permanent registration under the Kerala State Medical Council (KSMC).
The Association of Medical Biochemists Kerala chapter and KGMCTA maintained that Kerala has never been dependent on the “vacillating advisories of NMC” for the recruitment and selection of faculty in government medical colleges.
‘Early clinical exposure essential’
They pointed out that early clinical exposure is an essential aspect of competency-based medical education, and that non-medical MSc PhD qualification can in no way be a substitute for the clinical exposure that a faculty in a medical college should possess and impart to medical students.
PSC’s decision to allow non-medical candidates’ entry into the medical education service, altering the qualification for candidates after the initiation of the selection process, is a violation of the law. It will also lead to the dilution of the quality of medical education in the State, they said.
The associations have raised the issue with the PSC and the government. Applicants with MBBS and MD have already approached the Kerala Administrative Tribunal over the matter.
They demanded that the PSC must withdraw its decision to allow non-medical persons into the medical education service and immediately complete the selection process of medical candidates.
Published – February 14, 2026 06:51 pm IST
