Although the fresh batch of recently passed out medical officers would be appointed in the remotely situated health centres, but the plight of all those villagers who are living in the fringe parts of the State would not be resolved.
However, officials claimed that department has been continuously focusing to appoint the newly passed out batch in those areas where department is facing acute shortage of medical officers. The shortage of medical officers across the State has already become a perennial problem for the State health department for ensuring the timely medical aid to the residents in the hilly terrains of Uttarakhand.
Even after offering lucrative perks and terms, medical officers are not willing to join the State medical cadre, thus causing huge inconvenience to both residents and the State medical, health and family welfare department. However, the recently passed out batch of 61 medical officers, from Srinagar Medical College might prove to be a ray for hope to the residents. Sources confirmed that out of batch of 61 newly passed out batch, 38 medical officers are women. All passed out batch would be posted in primary health centres, health centres (Women), State allopathic dispensaries etc in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of the State.
The passed out batch would be given `55,000 per month and it has become mandatory for them to provide their service for the minimum period of five years in the higher parts of Uttarakhand. While speaking to The Pioneer, Dr JS Pangti, Director General, Medical, Health and Family Welfare said that the freshly passed out batch would be appointed in those areas where the State is facing the acute shortage of medical officers.
“The department has been working to overcome the problem of acute shortage of medical officers in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand,” he reiterated, adding that the department will ensure the appointment of medical officers and other para-medical staff in the remote areas of the State in order to provide round the clock medical and health care to those residents who are living in the mountainous parts of the State.
Dr Pangti said that strict department action would be also initiated against those medical officers who fail to join at their respective places in the given time frame.