§ Mr. KETTLEasked whether the senior assistant to the principal of the Medical College and the senior assistant surgeons at the General Hospital and the Maternity Hospital at Madras are military officers, and whether ordinary Hindu professional men are excluded from these posts?
§ Mr. BUCHANANThe persons holding the posts are shown in the Madras Civil List as belonging to the military branch of the subordinate medical service. The Secretary of State has no reason to suppose that duly qualified Hindu assistant surgeons will not be held eligible for these posts in the event of vacancies occurring and suitable candidates being available.
§ Mr. KETTLEasked whether the assistant surgeons' branch of the Indian Military Medical Department is recruited 1393W exclusively from the Europeans and Eurasians resident in India; whether admission to it is denied to Indians; whether the selected candidates are maintained and educated out of public funds and are afterwards furnished with public employment at a higher scale of salary than that of the civil assistant surgeons; and whether he proposes to reform the system in any way?
§ Mr. BUCHANANThe facts are as stated by the hon. Member. The difference in rates of pay is not however very considerable, being confined to the highest grade. I may explain that military assistant surgeons are recruited for service in European military hospitals, both in peace and war. The general question of the medical profession in India is under consideration of the Secretary of State.