Karnataka health dept approves contract-based appointment of general duty medical officers as CMOs

To address the shortage of casualty medical officers (CMOs) in taluk and district hospitals across Karnataka, the state health department has issued an order permitting the contract-based appointment of general duty medical officers as CMOs. 

A government circular issued on January 8 noted that of the 706 casualty medical officers posts sanctioned across the state, 465 posts lay vacant.

In a recent meeting with the district health officers (DHOs) and reproductive and child health officers (RCHOs), it was found that emergency medical services for accidents or mother and child health were affected due to these positions lying vacant in general hospitals and district hospitals across the state. It was recommended to appoint health officers as casualty medical officers contractually. 

The same problem was addressed during the review meeting with CM Siddaramaiah on January 7, where it was recommended that immediate measures needed to be taken to appoint general duty medical officers (GDMO) as casualty medical officers on a contract basis.

It was found that there are 412 GDMOs across the state currently. Those having completed six years of rural service could be appointed to the vacant CMO posts in taluk and district hospitals but until qualified doctors are appointed, doctors with an MBBS degree could also be hired on contract basis to fill these posts, noted the order.