The Assam government has raised the retirement age of faculty members of medical colleges to 70 from 65 to “augment availability” of experienced doctors for educational and medical service in the state.

This decision was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday evening, benefitting over 2000 faculty members across nine government medical colleges.

Sarma tweeted, “In the #AssamCabinet, we took several key decisions regarding retirement of medical college faculty members, reengagement of ex-HPC workers, medicines for Govt hospitals, service rules of Land Records staff, automated vehicle testing stations, solar power plant, etc.”

A health department official said the move has been prompted by the urgent need to meet the requirement of experienced hands.

“According to the National Medical Commission, the age of government doctors can be raised to 70. Moreover, we will be needing more experienced hands given the creation of new medical colleges,” the official said.

Apart from raising the retirement age, the cabinet also sanctioned Rs 136.8 crore to ensure “uninterrupted” availability of free essential drugs, surgical equipment, sutures, disinfectants, chemicals and consumables in government health facilities, including those in tea gardens.