All those villagers who are living in the remote areas of the State have very solid reason to smile as the State Health department has recently taken a decision to appoint 100 dental surgeons.
Department officials told that recruitment procedure for the surgeons is likely to start from the next month onwards.
Officials said that all surgeons would be exclusively posted in the tough mountainous parts of the State. Due to the lack of infrastructure in the higher parts of the State, medical officers are not coming forward to join the community health centres, primary health centres, and health centres.
As dental surgeons are not posted in the higher parts of the state, villagers are forced to traverse several kilometres to access to the medical and health services especially at the district hospitals.
Department sources said that maximum number of dental surgeons would be posted in Almora (20) and Pauri (15) whereas Champawat district will receive only two dental surgeons in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of the State respectively.
Additionally, eight dental surgeons would be posted in Chamoli, five in Dehradun, eight in Rudraprayag, 11 in Tehri, eight in Uttarkashi, seven in Nainital, 11 in Pithoragarh and five in Bageshwar district of the State.
After considering the fact that the medical officers fail to perform their duties what was expected from them, it would be also made mandatory for the dental surgeons to sign a note on non-judicial paper worth Rs 100 highlighting contract for a period of one year.
Under Dehradun district, dental surgeons would be posted at Additional Primary Health Centre Qyansi and Manyat, State Allopathic Dispensary Bulhard, Hatal and Mayarana whereas APHC Chaudamahta and SAD Swala will receive one dental surgeon each in Champawat district.
One of the department sources who wished anonymity told The Pioneer that it would be also mandatory for the candidates to register with the tribunal, who are applying for the post. He further said that special focus would be laid down by the department to appoint dental surgeons especially in the remote parts of the State.
He further said that those newly appointed dental surgeons who are posted in inaccessible and most inaccessible areas in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of the State will receive Rs52,000 and Rs56,000 respectively.