All those patients who visit the Government hospitals have to wait little longer to have doctors' consultation as the agreement of contractual medical officers has not renewed even on Saturday also.
However, department officials claimed that PMHS doctors have been urged to spend extra time for easing out patients' grievances, who visit the Government hospitals across the State.
Officials told that the contract of the medical officers would be renewed at earliest. The shortage of medical officers has become the perennial problem in Uttarakhand and even after offering better perks and terms to the medical officers, the newly passed out medical officers are not coming forward to join the State medical cadre.
The problem is extremely worst in the remote areas of the State. After realising the fact all those villagers who are living in the mountainous parts of the State are among the worst sufferers in the absence of proper medical facilities, the State medical, health and family welfare department has introduced walk-in interview for overcoming the shortage of medical officers in the State.
Well established sources revealed that 1,200 medical officer are providing medical and health services against the sanctioned post of 2,400 medical officers in the State.
Since the contract of nearly 250 medical officers has not renewed on Saturday, patients were forced to wait for their turn for hours in the
serpent lines formed infront of doctors' OPD chambers in the Government hospitals.
The service of 50 and 48 contractual medical officers were terminated in Dehradun and Nainital districts of Uttarakhand. Sources confirmed that contract of 122 and 129 doctors were not renewed on February, 28.
In an exclusive interaction with The Pioneer Dr GS Joshi, Director General Medical, Health and Family Welfare, said that file has been sent to secretariat for the renewal of contract of medical officers who are posted in the district hospitals, community health centres, primary health centres and health centres in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand.
He told that couple of plans is in the pipeline for curtailing the shortage of medical officers in the State in order to provide immediate medical and health care to even those patients who are living in the remote areas of the State.
Dr Joshi told that
every possible step would be taken by the department for renewing the contract of the medical officer in order to provide best and round the
clock medical and health facilities to patients.