The State Government would double the salaries of doctors working in the remote and inaccessible areas soon. Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said this in his reply during demand discussion in the Assembly on Saturday. He said the department has decided to give special incentives to doctors working in the KBK and other remote areas so that there would be no hospitals without doctors in coming days.
Nayak also announced to set up 48 new PHCs and CHCs in 17 districts, including Cuttack and Khordha. Similarly, the timing of Out Patient Departments (OPD) would be enhanced from 5 pm to 8 pm in all District Headquarters Hospitals, he said. Similarly, the number of seats at the Acharya Harihar Cancer and Research Institute would be increased to 500 in view of increasing number of patients visiting the State, he said. Besides, he stated that special initiatives have been taken to identify cancer patients and provide chemotherapy at five hospitals, including five DHHs and the Capital Hospital.