Against the backdrop of the acute shortage of doctors in the State, the Haryana Government is considering a proposal to increase their retirement age limit to 62 years. Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij while presiding over a review meeting of the Department on Monday said that directions have been issued to also prepare proposal for the promotion of doctors to the post of Civil Surgeon.
The Minister said that directions have also been issued to provide all 163 Homeopathic doctors with laptops equipped with advanced homeopathy software namely Radar and printers to facilitate them in promotion of Homeopathy. This software would not only help in maintaining proper records of all patients in hospitals but would also help them in prescribing medicines.
Vij said that a cadre of specialised doctors would be formed in the State under which specialised doctors would be recruited. Besides this, an Ayurvedic doctor, one MBBS doctor and one BDS doctor are being posted in all 550 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in rural areas. In its first phase, 124 Ayurvedic doctors would soon be posted at PHCs. Those PHCs where more than one MBBS doctors are posted, they would be shifted to other centers, he added.
He also said that a sum of `83.45 crore has been released to promote health services and to pay the honorarium to Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in the State.
Vij said that `22.75 crore have been released for the payment of honorarium to all ASHA workers posted in various districts. Also, National Health Mission has released `60.70 crore for the payment of works being carried out in the State. These funds have been sent to all District Health and Family Welfare Committees.
The Minister said that the contract of about 200 employees working under Mukhyamantri Muft Ilaaj Yojana has been extended for the next three months. They included pharmacists, computer operators, lab technicians and helpers engaged in all districts.
He added that now the payment of honorarium to Yashoda workers would also be made out of the State Budget.