Dr DS Rawat took charge of the new Director General health services on Tuesday. He was handed over the charge by the outgoing DG Dr Kusum Narriyal.
Shortly after assuming charge Dr Rawat told The Pioneer that his priority would be to ensure better management of the resources at his disposal for the betterment of the State health services. He accepted that there are many challenges before him but he would prompt all the employees of State health system to give their 200 per cent. Dr Rawat who is an alumnus of Moti lal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad said that recruitment of new doctors in the state health services would be one his top priorities. Dr Rawat had done his MBBS in the year 1979 and is a Post Graduate (PG) in pediatrics. His appointment however would be provisional as he does not fulfill the criteria of selection for DG. As per the rules the incumbent for DG of health should have served as Director Health services for at least a period of six months. Incidentally Dr Rawat was appointed director on January 06 this year which means he would be eligible for the DPC in the month of July 2017 only.
There was some uncertainty over the choice of new DG health. The outgoing DG, Dr Kusum Narriyal had sought voluntary retirement from the service citing personal problems. The state administration accepted her request and offered the post to next seniormost officer of state health services Dr Abha Mamgain. However Dr Mamgain refused the offer. There were speculations that the State administration could appoint an IAS officer on the post of DG. The association of Government doctors, the Provincial Medical Health Services (PMHS) vehemently protested against any such move and threatened agitation if any IAS officer is foisted on them. The state administration then assured the doctors that the post of the DG would be filled by someone from their cadre (doctor) only. The choice of the new DG was then narrowed down to Director National Health Mission (NHM), Dr R S Aswal and Dr D S Rawat. The name of Dr Aswal was involved in taxi fuel bill scam due to which the administration dithered on appointing him and instead relied on Dr Rawat though he would be the officiating DG for next six months.