Haryana govt mulling 2-year compulsory service to tackle doctors’ shortage

CHANDIGARH: Grappling with huge shortage of doctors in state-run hospitals, the Haryana government is actively considering a proposal to make it mandatory for those pursuing an MBBS degree from the state to serve in its hospitals for two years.

Replying to a question on non-availability of doctors, health minister Anil Vij said the government was examining the legality of the proposal.

“If the proposal gets implemented, there will be no shortage of doctors in the state,” Vij said during the Question Hour of the state assembly on Thursday.

Congress MLA Kiran Choudhry had asked about shortage of doctors in hospitals in Bhiwani district, especially in Chaudhary Bansi Lal General Hospital.

Choudhry further said 58 doctors were posted in the general hospital in Bhiwani, but the online transfer orders were cancelled.

The health minister had, in a written reply to a question on Wednesday, stated that 715 of the 2,981 posts of medical officers, which comes to 24%, are lying vacant in different districts of the state.

The number of vacant posi- tions of doctors are particularly high in districts like Karnal, Kaithal Bhiwani, Jind and Hisar. In these districts, 50% or more posts of medical officers are vacant.

In response to Choudhry’s question, the state health minister admitted that there is a shortage of doctors, but also told her to check her facts regarding the posting of 58 doctors in Bhiwani hospital.

He said the Bhiwani hospital had 55 sanctioned posts of medical officers and only 23 were vacant.

“(Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh) Hooda whispers something in your ear and you make the statement,” he added with a chuckle, before giving an assurance to fill up the vacant posts in the next round of transfers in the months of March and April.

Choudhry and Hooda, both from the Congress, do not get

alongwas more Vij making doctors.said with the each effortsstate other. governmentto recruit “Doctors can get posting in their home districts now,” Vij said. “The government has repealed a law that existed since the days of the British to make this possible. They were probably afraid of something, but we are not,” the Haryana health minister further added.

THE NUMBER OF VACANT POSITIONS OF DOCTORS ARE PARTICULARLY HIGH IN DISTRICTS LIKE KARNAL, KAITHAL BHIWANI, JIND AND HISAR WHERE MORE THAN 50% POSTS REMAIN VACANT