Hire specialist docs, we will foot the bill: Centre to states

The Centre has told the states to hire specialist doctors in various fields for rural areas with good pay packages,  whose salaries  it will pay, PTI reports from New Delhi.

Responding to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha, Health Minister J P Nadda said the states are free to hire experts, such as gynaecologists, for rural health facilities.

Seeking to ensure a larger intake of doctors, 5,000 seats have been added in medical colleges, he said.

Reports have it that there was a mere 19% availability of specialist doctors in the community health centres (CHCs), especially those in the rural areas, across the country.