Doctors, para medical staff to be recruited soon: Khader

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader has said that the state government will start recruiting doctors and para medical staff to the government hospitals within six months. 

Speaking to mediapersons here on Thursday, he said that generic drug centres will be started at district and taluk hospital premises shortly. The generic drug centre has been sanctioned to Chikmagalur town as well.

“The doctors and para medical staff were not recruited for the last 10 years. As a result, the number of vacancies lying vacant increased. There is shortage of 1,700 specialists doctors and 321 doctors in the state. The entire health care system in the state is dependent on 50 per cent of staff.” He said that 60 to 70 per cent of the people are dependent on government hospitals for treatment. 

“I have appealed to Chief Minister to recruit doctors and set up generic drug centres. The CM has responded positively to my request. A proposal has been submitted to the government to increase the salary of the doctors working in government hospitals to 70,000 from 55,000.”

Insurance for APL

The Health department has proposed a health insurance scheme for the above poverty line (APL) families while going for tertiary operations under the Rajiv Arogyashree scheme. In lieu of the government asking APL families to bear 30 per cent of the costs under the scheme for tertiary care, the government will try to provide insurance at a nominal premium. The insurance scheme will be rolled out by December. 

The State government is mulling over the accident health insurance scheme which will ensure timely treatment for road accident victims.  

“Whenever a road accident occurs, many fail to take the affected person to a hospital fearing treatment bill. Even if the victim is taken to the hospital, usually he/she is left unattended as the question of who will bear the treatment cost comes into focus. To avoid delay in treatment, the state government is planning to bear an initial treatment cost of up to Rs 25,000 till 48 hours after the accident. The Cabinet has approved the same.” 

District-in-Charge Minister Abhayachandra Jain, Deputy Commissioner B S Shekarappa, Zilla Panchayat CEO Priyanka Mary Francis and District Health Officer Neeraj were present.