Government to recruit 200 doctors, hire 1,000 on contract, says Khader
The Karnataka government will shortly fill 200 vacant doctor posts through direct recruitment and engage around 1,000 doctors on a contract basis to address the
The Karnataka government will shortly fill 200 vacant doctor posts through direct recruitment and engage around 1,000 doctors on a contract basis to address the shortage of medical personnel in the public healthcare system, Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader said on Wednesday. Addressing presspersons after a departmental review meeting, Mr. Khader said the State was facing a shortage of 1,290 MBBS doctors, 924 specialist doctors and 892 nurses. An action plan had been chalked out to fill these vacancies on priority. He said approval had been obtained from the Finance Department for recruitment, and the 200 doctor posts would be filled through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). “The examination, counselling, and appointment process will be completed on a priority basis,” he said.
Direct recruitment Doctors with MBBS or postgraduate medical qualifications can apply directly to the respective District Health Officers (DHOs) for contractual appointments. The government proposes to regularise those who perform satisfactorily for five years, based on their service record, without requiring them to appear for recruitment examinations again. Khader said the government was also considering a proposal to allow MBBS doctors serving in government hospitals to pursue postgraduate studies after completing five years of service. Contract MBBS doctors will receive a monthly salary of ₹60,000, while postgraduate doctors will be paid ₹1.10 lakh. An additional incentive of ₹15,000 a month will be provided to those willing to serve in remote villages, border areas and other difficult locations. The Minister said retired doctors who are physically and mentally fit would be allowed to continue serving on a contract basis up to the age of 70.
The department is also taking steps to recruit 400 pharmacists, 400 nurses, and 400 laboratory technicians. Disease management On disease management, Mr. Khader said all health centres in districts affected by Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), including Shivamogga, Sirsi and Sagar, had been directed to maintain adequate stocks of medicines. He also instructed health facilities to keep sufficient anti-snake venom stocks. Treatment for snakebite and KFD is being provided free of cost in both government and empanelled private hospitals, he said. The Minister announced the formation of expert committees on eye care, mental health and oral health to assess existing programmes, identify gaps, and recommend policy measures. Experts on these committees would act as a bridge between the government and the public, he said.
The BriefWire