A bill that empowers the state government to transfer up to 15% of medical officers and other staff in government hospitals and Health and Family Welfare department was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

The Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Medical Officers and Other Staff) (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was tabled by Health Minister K R Ramesh Kumar.

At present, the government cannot transfer more than 5% of total medical officers and other staff during annual transfers. Medical officers include doctors, specialists, physicians and dentists. Other staff include group ‘B ‘C’ and ‘D’ employees in Health and Family Welfare and Ayush departments.