'Dearth of doctors a concern for State'

Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak on Friday said the State Government is taking all possible efforts to fill up doctor posts in all Government hospitals. “Dearth of doctors is a matter of concern now. But the Government is taking all possible steps to fill up posts lying vacant in District Headquarters Hospitals, Community Health Centres and Public Health Centres,” the Minister said while replying to questions put by Tara Prasad Bahinipati and others in the Assembly.

He informed that steps have been initiated to appoint 400 doctors on adhoc basis very soon. “As per IPH norms, the State needs 11,540 doctors. But there are 4,842 sanctioned posts out of which 4,373 doctors are in position,” the Minister said. Expressing unhappiness that doctors are not joining posting places in KBK and other interior areas, the Minister said, “The problem of shortage of doctors can be resolved only through creation of more doctors. Keeping this in view, the Government is going to establish five medical colleges in the State.”  

The Minister said a five-year plan for infrastructural development involving Rs 3,000 crore has been made and Rs 300 crore has been allocated for construction of staff quarters and other infrastructure in the current year.