Fill vacant posts of doctors soon, Speaker tells govt

Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa on Thursday directed the government to do everything possible to overcome severe shortage of doctors in government hospitals.

When a good number of members in the Assembly complained of lack of doctors in their constituencies, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader reiterated that he would be able to appoint doctors once the recruitment rules are framed under the Article 371 (J) for the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

While an MLA was heard saying the minister has been giving the same reply both inside and outside the House, the Speaker said, “Let the government do anything including standing upside down, but it should fill the vacant posts within a stipulated time.”

In a written statement to H C Balakrishna (JD-S), the minister said doctors are not coming forward to work under the National Rural Health Mission and Karnataka Health System and Reforms Project despite salaries ranging from Rs 80,000 to consultation fee of Rs 1,000 per day for specialists. Through Karnataka Public Service Commission, the government wanted to recruit 600 specialist doctors. As many as 252 doctors applied for the job but eventually 137 turned up for counseling. Finally, 75 reported for work, he added.

Khader said the government has created 2,586 jobs for MBBS doctors and 2,290 are working. As many as 296 posts are still vacant. Once the rules for the H-K region are framed, as many as 3,579 posts in the Health department would be filled up, he added.
The minister, replying to H S Shivashankar (JD-S), said that 2,666 people were working on contract under the Arogya Kavacha schem which is run by GVK group. The government will not regularise their services as they are hired by the GVK.