To tackle the Covid-19 pandemic amid reports of shortage of doctors in some hospitals of the State, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said that the State Government has decided to issue fresh appointment letters to doctors on 116 posts, who were named in the waiting list.
“With the direction to join duty within 15 days of issuance of appointment letters, state Government had issued appointment letters to 312 selected doctors in March but only 196 of them have joined. A total of 116 have not joined duty and their joining date has expired. Now new appointment letters will be issued to those candidates who are in the waiting list,” Vij said.
The Health Minister said that this move is a part of mobilising all available resources in view of the Covid-19 crisis and to ensure the availability of doctors in rural parts of the State.
Sources in the health department said that the selection process of 447 doctors was initiated by the Health Department through Rohtak PGI. 312 doctors were selected and were offered to join their favorite district. A total of 1400 candidates had participated in the selection process done by PGI, Rohtak.
Despite Government’s consistent efforts, there has been shortage of doctors in the Government hospitals since long. Currently, there are 789 vacancies in the Government hospitals despite availability of about 2,500 doctors hospitals. If all 312 selected doctors join duty, there will still be a vacancy of 477 doctors in the State, officials said.
Meanwhile, Vij said that to provide medical services in rural areas, 211 medical teams have been formed to operate mobile clinics. These medical teams will visit different areas of the districts in Haryana Roadways buses, which will be converted into mobile clinics, to provide general OPD services and trace people exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms.
Talking to ‘The Pioneer’ over the phone, Vij said, “To address the regular medical issues of citizens left unaddressed due to the unfolding of the Covid-19 crisis, all district chief medical officers have been directed to form teams, consisting of doctors, paramedics and pharmacist, to operate mobile dispensaries.”
To execute this scheme effectively, all the DCs have been given necessary instruction and also directed to prepare the route plan of the mobile dispensary with the officials concerned. This dispensary will go to each village for the treatment of patients for at least two hours. Many villages will be covered in a day, the Minister added.
Vij said that to know the actual status on the execution of this scheme, he will review this scheme with DCs on Thursday.
The Health Minister said that instruction has been issued that social distancing will be taken care of once the mobile dispensary reaches the village. No crowd will be allowed to gather, he said, adding that the medical officers have been directed to send maintenance records of patients daily at State Headquarters. All Chief Medical Officers have been instructed to create routes by coordinating with the concerned DCs.
Sources in the Health department said that every mobile dispensary will have Allopathic, Urologist and homeopathic medicines. For mobile dispensaries to function, teams have been formed, which include doctors, paramedics and pharmacists. They will visit their assigned areas, examine the health condition of people who approach them for check-ups and provide them with medicine.
The time-table has been made for every village and mobile dispensary will visit the villages accordingly. To avail the service of mobile clinic, the villagers will be informed about when the mobile dispensary will reach their village. Once or twice in a week, a mobile dispensary will visit the village as per necessity.