As they look for other career options, especially in teaching positions at private medical universities, senior physicians at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Medical College and Hospital in Jaipur are choosing to retire voluntarily. The Rajasthani government recently raised the retirement age for physicians to 65, but this decision still stands. However, some seasoned professionals have decided to retire earlier than anticipated despite the increased freedom.
Dr. Sudhir Mehta, a 1980 graduate of SMS Medical College and a former chairman of the medical department, is a well-known example. Originally slated to retire in 2026, Dr. Mehta decided to take an early retirement on October 30, 2024. Since then, he has taken a position at a private university as the director of the medical department and pro vice-chancellor. He said he wants to follow his passion, which is academic work and research. With plans to expand the number of postgraduate (PG) medical students from 24 to 40 in the next year, Dr. Mehta is now in charge of creating medical courses at the institution. While there were 60 postgraduate students at SMS Hospital, he stated that he now aims to establish a more robust academic program at the private institution, which he believes will enable him to concentrate more on his areas of fulfillment—teaching and research.
Following Dr. Mehta’s voluntary retirement, Dr. Keswani took over as head of the medical department. Despite his own planned retirement in 2026, Dr. Keswani also decided to leave early after 44 years of service at SMS Hospital, including his time as department head. One of the main reasons he gave for his choice was his passion in academia. According to Dr. Keswani, he voluntarily retired for health-related reasons and is currently a professor at a private university, where he assists with the education of medical students.
Both physicians cited the extreme strain and rigorous workload at SMS Hospital as a major contributing factor to their early retirement. Numerous government healthcare programs have contributed to the hospital’s growing patient base, which has put a great deal of strain on medical staff and harmed their health. Some top doctors have left public service in favour of positions that offer less stress and more concentration on their academic and research interests due to the growing weight of the healthcare system.
In conclusion, even though the government raised the retirement age for physicians in an effort to keep seasoned experts on staff, some senior physicians have chosen to resign voluntarily due to the excessive workload and the attraction of academic positions at private universities.
SOURCE :
MEDICAL DIALOGUES
