Karnataka mandates appointment of contractual dental officers in 8 govt hospitals

Bengaluru: The state government on Friday mandated the contract-based appointment of one dental officer each in one taluk hospital and seven community health centres under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (ABArK) scheme in Karnataka.

According to a government order issued by state health and family welfare department Principal Secretary Harsh Gupta, there were 11 general hospitals or community health centres that had the post of a dental officer vacant. Three posts were filled in due course of time, and eight still remained vacant.

These eight include the Taluk Hospital, Mudhol, and CHCs in Mudalagi, Hulsoor, Tirumani, Guledagudda, Talikote, Almel, and Kodaikal. Different dental treatment procedures and their rates will be stipulated under the ABArK.

Treatment for spinal deformities

In another order, Harsh Gupta noted that treatments for spinal deformities such as scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis and others in children will be included under the 'unspecified surgical package' of the ABArK.

DH had reported in November 2024 that the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) had submitted its proposal to include scoliosis under the ambit of the ABArK scheme.

Each surgical procedure will be part of a Rs 1.5 lakh package in select government and empanelled private hospitals in Karnataka. The SAST would pay 75 per cent of the package rate to the government hospitals that undertake these procedures.