The Odisha Government has urged the Union Government to grant at least four medical colleges and hospitals in the State during the 12th Plan period, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Damodar Rout in the State Assembly on Friday.
Since the Centre proposes to set up 65 medical colleges and hospitals in the country during the 12th Five-Year Plan period, the State Health Department has submitted a detailed proposal for setting up of four of them at Balangir, Baripada, Baleswar and Koraput, he said.
Dr Rout admitted shortage of doctors in the Government hospitals and medical colleges and hospitals in the State. In order to fill up the vacant posts, a process has been started to recruit 1,500 new doctors through the Odisha Public Service Commission. Besides, it is decided to create 406 new posts of doctors soon, he said.
He said that out of the total sanctioned 4,369 posts of doctors, at present only 2,607 doctors are in position. While 171 doctors are on long leave, 384 have gone for higher studies and 352 are on training. As many as 294 adhoc and 242 contractual doctors are now engaged.
Dr Rout expressed his helplessness about non-joining of doctors at their places of postings in the KBK and other remote areas.
Claiming that the problem of shortage of doctors would be solved within three years, he said that while there is a hike of 100 more MBBS seats in the SCB Medical College, Cuttack, candidates have already taken admission in 100 seats each in the new medical college in Bhawanipatna and AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. Besides, steps have already been taken to strengthen the infrastructure to get 100 MBBS seats each in the MKCG Medical College, Brahmapur and VSS Medial College, Burla.
He said the Government would dismiss the doctors who are working in other institutes rather than working at their places of postings.