Representative image showing a hospital.
Credit: iStock Photo
Bengaluru: In a bid to address the acute shortage of specialists in the Health and Family Welfare Department, the Karnataka government has introduced a flexible hiring model that includes per-case and per-day contracts in addition to the existing contractual system.
A government order issued on January 1 specifies that specialists hired on a per-day basis must work at least two days a week. Their pay will be calculated by dividing the monthly salary of a contract specialist by the number of days worked. The current per-day rate is Rs 3,930.
Specialists, such as radiologists certifying scans, will be hired on a per-case basis. Rates will be finalised via local tenders after ceiling rates are certified by the commissioner of the State Health Department. These contracts will be valid for one year.
For specialists in obstetrics, gynaecology, anaesthesiology, and surgery, payments will align with rates under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka scheme. Incentives equivalent to full procedure rates for private hospitals will be provided to attract talent.
Dialysis services expanded
In a separate order, the government has permitted its hospitals, including medical college hospitals, to offer dialysis services at SAST rates of Rs 1,000 per cycle. Priority Household (PHH) cardholders can access these services free of charge across government facilities.