Trivendra Singh Rawat Government’s major initiative to woo retired doctors of army to boost tottering health services of the State has stuck up in bureaucratic tangle.
More than three months have elapsed since the State health department invited applications from the retired doctors of army. The delay in implementation of the scheme, a brain child of CM, TSR is sure to hit the positive intention to provide doctors to the State health services.
The response from the former medicos of army for the scheme launched by the State Government was also good as 120 such doctors showed willingness to work in the State.
In the meantime, the state health department received a letter from the army in which a request for increase in the remuneration offered to these doctors was made.
The State health department forwarded the letter to the State administration which is sitting over it from quite some time now. It is learnt that the army was not satisfied by the salary offered by the state health department to the retired doctors of armed forces.
It wanted an increase of 10 to 20 percent in the offer. This request of army was forwarded by the State health department to the officials concerned in the State administration which sought opinion of the finance department on the issue.
The health advisor to the Chief Minister (CM) of Uttarakhand, Dr Navin Baluni said that the proposal is awaiting clearance from the finance. He however added that the clearance from finance is expected in next few days.
Experts believe that the long delay in implementation of the scheme would be detrimental for the health department which is reeling under acute shortage of medical officers.
“Most of the retired doctors who have applied have recently superannuated from the services and delay on the State Government would drift them to other options. If such a situation prevails for some more time then this scheme of the Government is doomed to be a failure,’’ said an officer of health department.
With an aim to provide doctors to the state health services functioning only with one third of medical officers, the State Government planned to take services of retired army doctors.
The health department constituted four grades for these doctors with remuneration ranging from Rs 70000 to Rs 1.20 lakh per month.
The good response from the retired medicos of army kindled hope about improvement in health services but bureaucratic hurdles have acted as impediment in it.